YouSaid · the spoken record

Keith Rowley

lines on the record: 73
first: 2019-09-24
most recent: 2023-09-24
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

“We continue to stand on our principles, to deploy our diplomacy and leadership in the service of the common good, to uphold international law and to work with Member States in our commitment to leaving this world safer, healthier and better.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“It was indeed a confluence of celebratory events, as we all rejoiced over the election of CARICOM members to major United Nations bodies. In that regard, we congratulate Guyana on its election as a non-permanent member of the Security Council, and Haiti and Suriname on their election to the Economic and Social Council. Guided by our Charter and the spirit of multilateralism, there is a popular aphorism that we can use as inspiration. “Coming together is the beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success”. If we can apply that maxim. I have no doubt that we can achieve peace, prosperity, progress and sustainability for all. Trinidad and Tobago will be doing its part.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“For more than six decades, the people of Cuba have been grappling with significantly diminished prospects for charting a course towards prosperity, meaningful progress and sustainable development. Trinidad and Tobago therefore reiterates its call for the unconditional lifting of the economic, commercial and financial embargo on Cuba, and certainly for Cuba’s removal from any unjustified listing as an alleged State sponsor of terrorism. Despite our challenges. 2023 has been a momentous year for us in CARICOM. In addition to your election as President of the General Assembly. Sir. in Port of Spain we recently celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of the Caribbean Community under the theme “50 Years Strong: A Solid Foundation to Build On”.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“Trinidad and Tobago welcomed the landmark adoption of the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction. Along with its CARICOM partners. Trinidad and Tobago participated actively in the negotiations. We are fully confident that when that treaty enters into force, the benefits will redound to all of humankind. The 2030 Agenda envisions a revitalized global partnership for sustainable development, based on a spirit of strengthened global solidarity. However, it will be impossible for our sisters and brothers in Cuba to achieve those goals if the anachronistic economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed on that country remains in place.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“We call on the international community to lend its support to the fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States, and to reach an ambitious and transformative global blueprint that will drive the sustainable-development ambitions of small island developing nations towards long-term, resilient prosperity. We will also continue to advocate for sensitivity on the part of international financial institutions to the specific circumstances of developing countries and the challenges they face. Trinidad and Tobago therefore reiterates its support for the development of a multidimensional vulnerability index, the Bridgetown Initiative and any other effort that addresses the most pressing needs of developing countries, including those encountering liquidity challenges and debt distress. Earlier this year.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“Nationally determined contributions must become nationally implemented contributions. Trinidad and Tobago is in the process of implementing its commitment to installing some infrastructure for supplying sustainable energy. We urge developed countries to increase their support for the second replenishment of the Green Climate Fund. If those commitments are honoured in full sooner rather than later, they will go a long way to rebuilding trust and reigniting global solidarity, particularly for the global South. The global economic crisis has landed heavily on the developing world, with small island developing States such as Trinidad and Tobago and its Caribbean neighbours facing the harshest impacts of the socioeconomic fallout. For that reason, the next 10- year programme of action will be crucial to ensuring that no one is left behind.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“Most disconcertingly, we have noted with justifiable alarm the recent dire warning from scientists that without ambitious climate action, we will exceed the critical 1.5°C temperature threshold. However, recent developments have shown that overly ambitious net-zero targets should not be forced on small island nations. We are called on to be game-changers on this issue. We have a responsibility for the survival and continued existence of life on this planet that no other generation of leaders has had. A global stocktaking at the twenty-eighth Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change will be crucial, and it must produce a road map that brings the world closer to being on track by ensuring that nationally determined contributions are aligned with the 1.5°C goal.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“Trinidad and Tobago continues to call for bold and decisive action to ensure reparatory justice for the untold suffering of millions in the developing world, and we would welcome Africa’s support in that quest for justice. It is undeniable that climate change is an existential threat to all of us and does not recognize geographic boundaries. We also acknowledge that our people, the people of the small island developing States, those who are least culpable for the climate crisis, are the ones who continue to be most disproportionately affected. The experts have told us that this past July was the hottest month on record and that global ocean temperatures also reached record levels.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“All of us must be allowed to live a life free of fear and free from all forms of violence, a life in which we are respected and our dignity and liberty are not compromised. Those ideals must also shape the way forward for reconciliation, truth and justice. The persistent underdevelopment of Caribbean nations and so many others is directly attributable to the unpaid debt created by centuries of enslavement and economic exploitation of Africans by Europeans. The descendants of those people populate the Caribbean islands, where they struggle manfully against the residual rigours of those historic crimes, even as they are visited by the worst effects of climate change and a constant threat of exclusion from the world’s mainstream financial systems. In that regard.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“While we acknowledge that the International Criminal Court provides a beacon of hope for access to justice, we also recognize that it is an absolute injustice that 75 years after the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, discrimination and a lack of tolerance for fundamental human rights still exist. We remain concerned about the fact that in some quarters, women and girls continue to be denied the kinds of opportunities that are offered to men and boys, which stymies our collective pursuit of building peaceful and sustainable societies. It is quite paradoxical that we are attempting to implement the 2030 Agenda while leaving substantial segments of communities behind.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“In recognizing that milestone, we want to remember and pay tribute to an outstanding pioneer of the Court, the late Arthur N. R. Robinson, former Prime Minister and President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. We have seen sufficient evidence to be convinced that his efforts, which resulted in part in the creation of the International Criminal Court, were not in vain. For that reason. Trinidad and Tobago remains steadfast in its support to the work and mandate of the Court, as we believe that access to justice is a critical element in achieving sustainable peace. We therefore continue to urge those countries that have not done so to submit to its jurisdiction so that it can comprehensively fulfil its mandate as a truly universal Court.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“Trinidad and Tobago reiterates its strong support for a two-State solution based on mutual understanding, tolerance and respect, which would serve as a foundation for Israel and Palestine to live as peaceful, responsible neighbours. We continue to urge both sides to recommit to a just, lasting and comprehensive solution that can ensure peace, prosperity, progress and sustainability for all. The year 2023 marks two very important milestones for the international community, as we commemorate the seventy-fifth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as well as the twenty-fifth anniversary of the adoption of the Rome Statute. As a country that has been a long-standing advocate for the International Criminal Court. Trinidad and Tobago congratulates the Court on its achievement.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“It is indeed disappointing that the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which helped stabilize global food prices and potentially protected millions from the threat of famine and starvation, has been terminated. We noted with great anxiety that global food prices rose in July for the first time in months. That situation is of major concern to CARICOM as we acknowledge that food security remains a crucial issue for our region and is a vital component in our quest to implement the 2030 Agenda. It is also regrettable that after all this time, a credible solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict remains elusive. In that regard.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“I want to assure the Assembly that Trinidad and Tobago, as an honest broker, remains fully committed to working with the Government of Haiti and all other stakeholders to arrive at an indigenous solution that can comprehensively address the crisis in that country. Trinidad and Tobago is of the view that in order to rebuild trust and reignite global solidarity, there must be universal adherence to the Charter of the United Nations and international law. Respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all States must be paramount and permanent. It is in that connection that we continue to register our dismay and disappointment at the ongoing hostilities following the military action against Ukraine. Although we are geographically far removed from the threat of the conflict, we are not unaffected.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“I would like to remind everyone of the exhortation by Trinidad and Tobago’s iconic calypsonian David Rudder in his timeless classic song “Haiti”, in which he says. “Haiti. I’m sorry”. In his words. “I refuse to believe that we good people / Will forever turn our hearts and eyes away / Haiti. I’m sorry / We misunderstood you / One day we’ll turn our heads / And look inside you”. That day has come. That day is now. We. the United Nations gathered here must prioritize authorizing the external help that Haiti desperately needs. Just like anywhere else in the world. Haiti deserves peace. Haiti deserves prosperity. Haiti deserves progress and Haiti deserves sustainability. Haiti requires the intervention of the United Nations now.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“It is in that context that Trinidad and Tobago supports CARICOM’s position that all nations should respect the Caribbean Sea as a zone of peace. Consequently, as we fight our own battle in this area, we remain deeply concerned about the developments in our fellow CARICOM country. Haiti, that are having unimaginably terrible humanitarian, socioeconomic and security consequences. We applaud the decision of the Government of Kenya to offer to help lead a multinational unit in Haiti and welcome the decision of the Governments of the Bahamas and Jamaica to contribute personnel to it. Rwanda’s offer to help is also significant and commendable. We urge the international community to collaborate with Haiti with a view to arriving at a credible solution to its current crisis that can guarantee that the country and its people are not left behind.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“We also look forward to continuing to work collaboratively with our regional and international partners, especially the United States, to urgently reduce the illicit trade in illegal firearms, most of which are produced by gun manufacturers and promoters based here in this country. We acknowledge and appreciate the recent and ongoing support of the United States in joining with Trinidad and Tobago and CARICOM more generally in confronting that metastasizing scourge, which is not only disturbing our safety but threatening our sense of security and even our democratic States themselves. We acknowledge that the proliferation of violent crime, concomitant with other escalating crises, provides fertile conditions for destabilizing any country.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“Trinidad and Tobago, both individually and as part of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). has attempted to devise solutions and interventions to address those challenges meaningfully and holistically. For that reason, earlier this year we hosted a CARICOM Regional Symposium addressing crime and violence as a public health issue, as we felt it was incumbent on us to promote and encourage dialogue aimed at reducing violence and preventing crime in our society. In that context, we are cognizant of the need for cooperation at all levels. Accordingly. Trinidad and Tobago remains fully committed to the Arms Trade Treaty and its stated objectives.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“The situation has worsened largely because of the accelerated commercial availability of such weapons, coupled with illegal trafficking from countries of manufacture into the almost defenceless territories of the Caribbean. With a population of 1.4 million people. Trinidad and Tobago experienced more than 600 murders last year. 90 per cent of which involved handguns or. increasingly, assault weapons. Despite making our best efforts and huge inroads into our already scarce resources, we have already seen more than 400 violent firearms-driven killings this year. This is a crisis shared by almost all the territories in the Caribbean and must be added to the challenges that stand in the way of successfully tackling any of the Sustainable Development Goals that have already been identified.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“Trinidad and Tobago, as a responsible member of our Organization, is committed to doing its part to achieve sustainable development and international peace and security for all. However, our ability to safely navigate our destiny into the harbour of sustainable development by 2030 has been stymied by challenges and threats, some of which are existential. One such threat is the proliferation and use in our society of illegal firearms, which, just as they do in other jurisdictions, bring untold suffering to many families and communities and the nation as a whole. Only today we experienced the loss of five members of one family, killed by an assailant with an assault weapon.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“Investments in instruments of war have far surpassed investments in instruments of peace and peacebuilding. Some protracted conflicts are continuing with little sign of a ceasefire, and others continue to erupt and escalate, with disturbing consequences. All of that contributes to the waning spirit of multilateralism in our United Nations, the very purpose for which the Organization was built. We have seen glimmers of hope extinguished by the darkness of despair, where the most vulnerable of the global population are made to pay the highest price. The cards of the international financial system remain heavily stacked against the global South, inhibiting the prospects for those countries to achieve economic growth and sustainable development. Against that backdrop. I ask. is that the legacy that we want to leave to future generations?”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“Let me express our deepest condolences to the Governments and the peoples of Morocco and Libya and our solidarity with them in the wake of the recent tragedies in their countries, which have resulted in significant losses of lives and livelihoods and the destruction of property. At the midpoint of the journey towards the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, sober reflection will leave many observers with a pessimistic feeling that the world is in peril and that we are at risk of significantly falling short in ensuring that no one is left behind. We have seen an array of cascading crises in many parts of the world. The Secretary-General recently sounded the alarm, saying that the period of global warming had ended and one of global boiling had arrived.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“It is an honour to address this gathering of States in the General Assembly at its seventy-eighth session. I stand before the Assembly to speak on behalf of a proud nation that is celebrating the leadership of the General Assembly for the next year by a son of the soil of Trinidad and Tobago. We are proud of you. Mr. President. I once again extend my warm congratulations to you on behalf of the Government and the people of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and assure you of our full support. I would also like to express our deep gratitude to your predecessor. His Excellency Mr. Csaba Korosi. for ably guiding our work during the seventy-seventh session.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“However, as we assess the performance and impact of the United Nations and the road we have travelled, we must also look ahead to the next phase in the life of our organization, given the many challenges which confront our global community. I am confident that by working together we can achieve success. Mr President, Members all, I thank you.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“In furtherance of this same spirit we ask the Member nations of the UN to continue to support the CARICOM initiatives, encouraged by Norway and Barbados, to bring all elements in Venezuela to accept dialogue and human rights as their guiding lights as we look forward to fair and peaceful elections there in the near future and trust that a satisfactory outcome would lead to a resumption of normalcy in our Caribbean shores as we all aspire together to achieve together in this region. Mr. President, As the United Nations commemorates its 75th anniversary, it is indeed opportune to reaffirm its founders’ guiding vision as enshrined in the Charter and to rededicate ourselves to be steadfast in our joint pursuit of the goals of upholding Human Rights, Development, Peace and Security.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“To this end, Trinidad and Tobago reiterates its call for the unconditional lifting of the economic, commercial and financial embargo against Cuba. We have noted that despite the blockade, the Government of Cuba has demonstrated the true spirit of multilateralism by providing health care personnel to assist countries in different regions of the world in their fight against COVID-19. We commend and thank the Government and People of Cuba for this humanitarian gesture.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“While we acknowledge that in its seventy-five- year history the United Nations has succeeded in preventing another global war, peace remains out of reach in some parts of the world. In order to be effective, we believe that the United Nations must adapt to the ever-changing geopolitical environment and that the Security Council ought to reflect the diversity that characterises and truly represents the United Nations. As we begin the Decade of Action and Delivery to implement the Sustainable Development Goals it is important to ensure that no country is left behind. It is on this note that we maintain that the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed against Cuba, undermines the country’s potential to achieve sustainable development.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“Unfortunately, as a result of the global pandemic, the fourth session of the Intergovernmental Conference on an International Legally Binding Instrument under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction, had to be postponed. Given the critical stage of the negotiations, Trinidad and Tobago remains hopeful for its early resumption, the successful completion of which would redound to the benefit of all humankind. Mr. President, Trinidad and Tobago continues to support the reform of the Security Council. We are firm in our view that this will improve significantly the global ability to effectively respond to the various security and other challenges, which currently confront the international community.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“In recognition of the phenomenal contribution of women to peace and development, we are particularly proud to highlight the tenth anniversary of the introduction and main sponsorship by Trinidad and Tobago of the United Nations General Assembly Resolution on ‘Women, Disarmament, Nonproliferation and Arms Control.’ Mr. President, The marine environment and its resources remain critical to the livelihood of the people of Trinidad and Tobago, and to our sustainable development. Governance of our oceans continues to be a priority.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“Despite the middle and upper-income status of many economies in the region, a strong case exists that these countries are deserving of special consideration for debt relief. We strongly urge the international community to assist with the financial support needed by developing countries, including middle- income countries like Trinidad and Tobago, to meet their development commitments. The promotion of gender equity and equality is a priority in our National Development Strategy. As a country, we have also remained unwavering in our commitment to the effective implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and have submitted our country’s progress report this year on the twenty- fifth (25th) anniversary of the Declaration.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“Additionally, engendering investment in agriculture will inevitably lead to a reduction in the demand for certain imported foods, preservation of our limited financial resources and the achievement of a more food-secure nation. We will also continue to encourage the participation of women in agri-business, agriculture and tourism as we remain seized of the fact that women not only undertake the role of ensuring that their families receive the nutrition they need to be healthy but are sometimes the breadwinners. In this regard, the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), has cautioned that a debt crisis is looming for the economies of the Latin American and Caribbean subregion, which will compound their high debt to GDP and debt service ratios.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“In this regard, our country continues to place emphasis on multi-pronged approaches for future adaptation to and mitigation of climate change, within the constraints of our limited financial capability. We therefore remain committed to achieving our sustainable development through a combination of collaborative approaches and improved partnerships with stakeholders. Mr. President, The COVID-19 pandemic coupled with the significant decreases in energy prices has precipitated the acceleration of our efforts aimed at the diversification of our economy. In this respect, we have allocated resources and increased investment in the agricultural and tourism sectors as we recognise the need to build resilience in these areas through incentives, policies, programmes and public private partnerships.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“We are optimistic that our greater reliance on digital platforms will result in opportunities for our young people in fields related to cyber technology and cyber security. Mr. President, It is widely acknowledged that climate change is a threat to our very existence. We are also cognisant that this pernicious threat does not recognise geographical boundaries and will disproportionately impact developing countries, particularly Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Least Developed Countries (LDCs). As a Small Island Developing State, Trinidad and Tobago remains at high risk of being affected by the harmful effects of climate change which have already been manifested in coastal erosion resulting from the rise in sea level.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“The Government of Trinidad and Tobago remains attentive to the needs of all our children, with special emphasis on those who are most affected by this pandemic, such as those living in extreme poverty, those suffering from mental health ailments, those with special needs and those who have lost loved ones. As we navigate through these challenging times, we remain committed to ensuring that no child is left behind in our campaign to “build back better”. Mr. President, The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated my Government’s thrust towards a digital transformation of the public sector. As we adjust to the new normal, we have quickly adapted to utilising remote platforms for conducting business instead of the traditional in-person meetings.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“Trinidad and Tobago in this regard attaches great importance and remains unwavering in its support of the mandate of the International Criminal Court (ICC), which was established to hold those who commit such heinous crimes accountable under international law and to act as a deterrent to would-be perpetrators. We therefore continue to urge those States, which have not yet done so, to support the ICC. Mr. President, The first Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Dr. Eric Williams, declared, “The future of our nation is in our children’s school bags”. That declaration remains valid to this day and in our country, it is universally accepted that education is the key to success. It is therefore in our best interest to ensure that our nation’s children have both the opportunity and the necessary tools to fulfill their highest potential.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“Given our ardent desire to free our society from the effects of the prevalence of unregulated small arms and light weapons, Trinidad and Tobago remains fully committed to the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) which we view as indispensable in addressing the menace of the illicit arms trade. As one of the most multi-ethnic and diverse societies in the world, Trinidad and Tobago is cognisant of the value of diversity, mutual respect and the right to live in freedom without fear of persecution. Regrettably, some parts of the world are still afflicted by the absence of tolerance for human rights, dignity and diversity, which has engendered war crimes, crimes of aggression, crimes of genocide and crimes against humanity.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“Alarmingly the pandemic has intensified the vulnerabilities of small economies and has rendered us more susceptible to exogenous shocks. Further, COVID-19 has threatened to reverse the gains, which our societies have achieved towards attaining our sustainable development goal (SDG) targets. Our prospects for achieving sustainable development hinge heavily on the safety and security of our people. The global pandemic has unfortunately exacerbated the threats posed by the illicit trafficking in small arms and light weapons, piracy, trafficking in persons and cybercrimes.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“President, Trinidad and Tobago commends the leadership role demonstrated by the World Health Organization (WHO) in spearheading the efforts to treat with this plague. We also wish to salute and commend the health care and other frontline workers around the world who continue to work tirelessly, sometimes at significant personal sacrifice, to ensure that those affected by the pandemic receive the best available care. Mr. President, The COVID-19 pandemic presents an existential threat of unmatched proportions to human health and safety around the world. It has overwhelmed health sectors, disturbed global trade and food supply chains, crushed the travel and leisure industry as well as disrupt the basic livelihoods of people around the world.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“Our experience thus far bears eloquent testimony of the need for Small Island Developing States to be supported by an enabling international economic environment through business activity and financing, international trade, as well as technical cooperation and, most importantly, multilateralism. Mr. President, I take the opportunity to convey my condolences to and express my solidarity with all Member States and all the families of those who have lost loved ones due to the COVID-19 global pandemic. While we mourn the loss of the hundreds of thousands of persons worldwide, to COVID-19, we are greatly concerned with the alarming rate at which the disease continues to affect millions across the globe. Mr.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“As a Government, we took the decision to close our borders in March this year, to temporarily halt the conduct of non-essential services and to implement physical distancing requirements, all in an effort to prevent the importation and spread of the virus. Subsequently, additional measures were implemented to the approach to safeguarding the population. Relevant adjustments were also made to address the impending economic consequences to protect the most vulnerable in our society, who would have temporarily lost the wherewithal to support themselves.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“President, It is in this context, that I congratulate you on the aptly chosen theme for this 75th session and I welcome the opportunity to address this Assembly and share our perspectives on “The future we want, the United Nations we need: reaffirming our collective commitment to multilateralism-confronting COVID-19 through effective multilateral action.” Small nations like ours as well as big nations anticipate and even depend on us all sharing and caring for each other. Mr. President, Like many other Small Island Developing States (SIDS) around the world contending with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Trinidad and Tobago has had to walk a thin line between saving lives and preserving livelihoods, with limited resources.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“As we mark this 75th anniversary of the United Nations, all States, small and large, can be reasonably proud of some of our achievements under the umbrella of this revered organisation, such as the creation of a roadmap for global sustainable development, advances in the development of international law and the promotion of gender equality. Throughout the 75 years of the existence of the United Nations, the common thread in the tapestry of our collective action is the recognition that global challenges can best be overcome through the practice of multilateralism based on mutual respect and trust. Now more than ever is the time to demonstrate that true spirit of global partnership and a reaffirmation of the rules-based commitments. Mr.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“The 75th anniversary of the United Nations presents an ideal opportunity for reflection and introspection on whether we have embraced the opportunities to re-engineer and reinvigorate the mechanisms of multilateralism, to engender the peace, which has so far remained elusive, to advance social progress and to chart the way forward to attain sustainable development, which would benefit all of humanity. Mr President, Trinidad and Tobago joined this family of nations in 1962, the year we attained our independence. As a Small Island Developing State, we continue to embrace the principle of collective security enshrined in the Charter as a major safeguard for Small States, where the rule of law, in the absence of military and economic power, sustains their strength and sovereignty.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“President, Seventy-five years ago, in the aftermath of the Second World War, the United Nations was created, with the primary objective of saving “succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which had twice in our lifetime brought untold sorrow to mankind.” Undoubtedly, the desire to create the political, social and economic conditions for lasting peace remains as fervent today as it was during the organisation’s genesis in San Francisco.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“Mr. President, It is an honour to address this august Assembly of States, on this milestone, the 75th Session of the United Nations General Assembly. Allow me at the outset, to extend congratulations to you, Mr. President, on behalf of the Government and People of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, on your election as President for this Session. You have the full support of Trinidad and Tobago, as we acknowledge the enormity of your undertaking, especially as we continue to grapple with a global pandemic which has affected us all. I also wish to express our deepest gratitude to your predecessor, His Excellency Professor Tijani Muhammad-Bande for his astute leadership in the 74th session and for successfully guiding the work of the session during the challenging onset of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus pandemic. Mr.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“As the United Nations stands on the threshold of celebrating its seventy-fifth anniversary, Trinidad and Tobago is pleased to recommit itself to the purposes and principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter. As States Members of the United Nations, we need to recalibrate our efforts towards ensuring that our Organization is effective, relevant and fit for purpose and that no one is left behind. I am confident that we possess the inherent desire, the will and the impetus to achieve those goals.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“While we remain hopeful that such a proposal will eventually find favour among Member States, at this moment it is with great pride that we congratulate CARICOM nation Saint Vincent and the Grenadines on becoming, earlier this year, the smallest nation ever to secure a seat on the Council. This historic achievement has convincingly demonstrated that our small islands remain indomitable as we continue to make noteworthy contributions in all spheres. At this juncture, I would like to assure the General Assembly of Trinidad and Tobago’s continued dedication to the maintenance of international peace and security, as evidenced in our candidature for membership in the Council for the period 2027-2028, for what could be the second time in our nation’s history.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“We therefore reiterate our call for all Member States to work collaboratively in the spirit of compromise to reform the Security Council in a manner that would effectively address its functioning and credibility, making it more relevant to the United Nations and better equipped to fulfil its mandate in today’s context. As CARICOM, one of our positions for the reform of the Security Council has been to advocate for the guaranteed representation and inclusion of small island developing States through a dedicated seat to be rotated among SIDS across all regions.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“Trinidad and Tobago, as part of the Caribbean Community, participated in the 2017 United Nations conference to negotiate a legally binding instrument to prohibit nuclear weapons, leading towards their total elimination, and welcomed the adoption of the historic Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. In that regard, I am proud to announce that yesterday, 26 September, Trinidad and Tobago signed and deposited its instrument of ratification for the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. The reform of the Security Council continues to be an area in which CARICOM remains actively engaged in advocacy for early and comprehensive reform. We look forward to the intergovernmental negotiations on Security Council reform at the seventy-fourth session of the General Assembly, building on the work done at the seventy-third session.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“For that reason, we continue to encourage those countries that have not yet submitted to the jurisdiction of the Court to do so, sooner rather than later, so that it can aptly and fully fulfil its mandate as a universal court. Trinidad and Tobago maintains that the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons constitutes a crime against humanity and a violation of international law, including international humanitarian law and the Charter of the United Nations. Lamentably, we have witnessed in recent times the elimination of restraints on nuclear weapons at both the bilateral and the multilateral levels.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)