Basseterre, St. Kitts, September 27, 2024 (SKNIS): The Honourable Dr. Terrance Drew, Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, issued a compelling call to action for global leaders, organisations, and institutions to unite in pursuit of a sustainable future for both current and future generations.
The call was made during his address at the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA79) on Friday, September 27, 2024. In his national statement, Dr. Drew touched on several critical themes including Rising Tides, Rising Threats where he noted that the lived reality in the Caribbean sees “rising tides washing away our hopes” and “unforgiving heat setting ablaze our dreams. We pray for rain and receive the flood, dragging our homes and our future to the abyss.”
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Prime Minister Dr. Drew emphasised that security and sustainability are inextricably linked as security is more than an absence of conflict, and must reflect the presence of dignity, of justice, and hope.
“When we say, ‘leaving no one behind: acting together for the advancement of peace, sustainable development, and human dignity for present and future generations’ it cannot be a hollow phrase. It must be a sacred commitment – a pledge to every soul, from the wealthiest nation to the smallest island state,” the prime minister remarked. “For when the waters rise in the South, even the North will eventually drown. When the forests burn in the North, the South too will choke from the smoke. For it is one Planet; one Human Race.”
Highlighting the success of the Caribbean-led Argyle Declaration, which helped deescalate tensions between Guyana and Venezuela and fostered productive dialogue, Prime Minister Dr. Drew emphasised the importance of engagement through dialogue and cooperation.
He also reiterated the Caribbean Community’s (CARICOM) call for an unconditional ceasefire in Gaza; and commended the work of the National Transitional Council, which is working to find a peaceful political solution to end gang violence in Haiti.
Dr. Drew highlighted the progressive work of his government to transform St. Kitts and Nevis into a sustainable island state guided by seven pillars: Water Security, Energy Transition, Food Security, Sustainable Industry, Sustainable Settlements, Circular Economy, and Social Protection. Key projects on this journey will see the construction of renewable energy desalination plants, building a modern climate-smart hospital, boosting local food production, and promoting lifelong learning as the key to national development.
“My friends, we stand at a crossroads. We can no longer afford the luxury of inaction. We must meet the moment with the courage it demands. We must reject business as usual and embrace a new path forward—one that values people over profit, one that prioritises the planet over power. As we gather in this assembly, let us remember: we are all stewards of this fragile world. The rising tides do not respect borders, and the fires of conflict burn without discrimination,” Prime Minister Dr. Drew remarked.
He urged the global heads, industry leaders, problem solvers and critical thinkers at UNGA79 to come together and let our voices resonate like the surrounding oceans and advocate for a peaceful future marked by the presence of justice, sustainability, and hope.
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