April 22, 2024 – University of Miami- Concordia Americas Summit – At the prestigious 2024 Concordia Americas Summit, the Prime Minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis, the Honourable Dr. Terrance Drew captivated attendees at the fully subscribed event with a powerful and insightful presentation during the high-level strategic dialogue on ‘Strengthening Democracy and the Economy – Regional Unity: Strategies to Improve the Western Hemisphere Relationships.
Joined by a panel of distinguished international leaders and thought provokers, Prime Minister Drew spoke with passion and clarity about the pressing challenges and significant opportunities facing Latin American and Caribbean states. His candid discussion specifically highlighted the vulnerabilities of small states such as Saint Kitts and Nevis, emphasizing the severe impacts of climate change, including hurricanes, sea-level rise, and food security challenges.
In his compelling address, Prime Minister Drew stressed the paradox faced by small island developing states, which suffer increased vulnerability due to climate change while facing reduced access to concessionary rates from International Financial Institutions due to their economic graduation. He called for a reconsideration of how economic metrics are applied to nations that are particularly susceptible to external shocks and the vicissitudes of natural disasters.
The Prime Minister’s insights were warmly received by the audience, resonating deeply with representatives from states across the sub-region and with the full-capacity audience. His call for expanded hemispheric collaboration to preserve democracy and advance economic sustainability struck a chord with all present.
Prime Minister Drew emphasized the potential for Latin America and the Caribbean to forge productive partnerships to address the myriad challenges they face. By reinforcing democracy and the rule of law, he advocated for a united approach to combating crime and violence, responding to the needs of the populace, and tackling the root causes of regional challenges.
Other high-level panelists: Commander of the US Southern Command, Gen. Laura J. Richardson, Former President Ivan Duque of Colombia, OAS Secretary General Luis Almagro Lemes, the Vice President of the Dominican Republic, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ecuador, well known journalist Christopher Ruddy of Newsmax Media, and former US Senator Chris Dodd.
Now in its eighth year, the 2024 Concordia Americas Summit provides the leading nonpartisan, public-private sector forum on the Western Hemisphere, bringing to the forefront the abundance of opportunities to embrace market-led solutions that have the potential to transform the region and advance opportunity.
