New York, 24 July 2025
Capping a meaningful week at the United Nations’ 2025 High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) held in New York, the Hon. Dr. Joyelle Clarke, Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment, Climate Action and Constituency Empowerment met with H. E. Amina Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations and Chair of the United Nations Sustainable Development Group to further enhance the Federation’s partnership with the United Nations.
The HLPF is considered “the central platform for the follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 SDGs” according to the United Nations, serving as an integral aspect of the international architecture for follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda and the implementation of the SDGs.
The Forum is convened annually under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) for eight (8) days, including a three-day Ministerial Segment. It conducts regular in-depth reviews of progress on the Sustainable Development Goals and includes Voluntary National Reviews where countries can present their findings from national reviews of progress with a view to accelerate the accomplishment of the 2030 Agenda.
As St. Kitts and Nevis readies itself to assume its seat on the Economic and Social Council and begins preparations to undergo its second VNR in 2026, this meeting provided an opportunity to take stock and recalibrate in alignment with global realities. The United Nations is undergoing a restructuring and Dr. Mutryce Williams, Permanent Representative to the United Nations underscored that, “it is important that we engage UN officials at the highest levels as it is one of our most meaningful development partners. Much of our developmental journey has been shaped by the pivotal work of the UN through the MDGs and now the SDGs, and ensuring synergies is paramount as we build resilience and sustainability to ensure the security of Kittitians and Nevisians.”
Recognizing that the international landscape is one that is increasingly challenging for small island states like St. Kitts and Nevis to navigate, Minister Clarke welcomed the opportunity to engage the Deputy Secretary-General stating that “it is this Administration’s ambition to translate [these] challenges into opportunities. We believe in being geostrategic in our international considerations, targeted in our national approach, and impactful in every engagement so that Kittitians and Nevisians are cushioned from any potential uncertainty caused by geopolitical and geo-economic change.”
Minster Clarke was accompanied by Ms. Sherilita Dore-Tyson, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Sustainable Development and Mr. Eustace Wallace, Minister Counselor at the Permanent Mission of St. Kitts and Nevis to the United Nations.
