Government of the British Virgin Islands, 17th December 2021 -- Premier and Minister Hon. Andrew A. Fahie and United Nations (UN) Resident Coordinator for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean Mr. Didier Trebucq have signed the UN Multi-Country Sustainable Development Framework (MSDCF) for the Caribbean (2022-2026). Upon signing, the British Virgin Islands (BVI) became the first signatory Caribbean Government to the MSDCF, marking a significant step in enhancing cooperation between the BVI and UN to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
In his remarks during the hybrid signing ceremony, Premier Fahie congratulated Mr. Trebucq and the UN Sub-regional Team on the finalization of the MSDCF after considerable consultation with stakeholders.
“The MSDCF has been developed with the full input of the stakeholder countries and territories who are the primary beneficiaries. Your strong leadership and the work of your team was critical to its completion; and I commend you for ensuring that the voice and the needs of the Eastern Caribbean are captured in the document,” Premier Fahie said.
He further went on to highlight the challenges faced by the Caribbean due to the ongoing global pandemic. According to the Premier,
“The Caribbean is at a critical stage where the global pandemic has increased our vulnerability as a grouping of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and low-lying coastal countries. The now fast-spreading Omicron variant also reminds us that we are not out of the woods yet. Many countries and territories continue to experience the negative economic, social and health impacts of the virus. Controlling COVID and achieving a balanced recovery will take longer than anyone imagined… Without a doubt, we need the support of the UN now more than ever. Your assistance is critical if we are to still achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. Despite the scale of the challenge, I remain confident and optimistic that the SDGs are still within reach, but it will require tireless effort, multisectoral partnerships and creative approaches to resource mobilisation.”
Honourable Fahie also explained that within the framework of the MSDCF, his Administration would be seeking UN support to implement its National Sustainable Development Plan , which was now in advanced draft form after months of public consultation and technical assistance from the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC).
Mr. Trebucq in his opening remarks commended the BVI Government for its substantive contribution to the cooperation framework and for the deepening partnership between the BVI and the UN Sub-regional Team. He also emphasised that no previous cooperation framework had been as significant, given the current unprecedented times with a global pandemic that shows no clear end in sight, and a climate crisis that poses an existential threat, especially to SIDS.
“The UN is very satisfied that we have arrived at this point where there is a clear roadmap for how the UN will support countries to achieve two urgent priorities: accelerate progress towards the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals and facilitate faster recovery from the socio-economic impact of COVID-19. This new framework provides a renewed focus from the UN to step-up efforts to help Caribbean SIDS to weather this storm and build resilience,” he said.
Mr. Trebucq was joined by Heads and Representatives of UN agencies in the sub-region who included: Dr Yitades Gebre - PAHO/WHO Representative, Ms Valerie Cliff – UNDP Representative, Dr Aloys Kamuragiye – UNICEF Representative, Mr Regis Chapman – WFP Head of Office, Dr Saadia Sanchez – UNESCO Director and Representative, and Mr Juan Miguel Diez – UNIC.
Premier Fahie was joined by Permanent Secretary Dr. Carolyn O’Neal-Morton, Special Envoy of the Premier Mr. Benito Wheatley and Director of the International Affairs Secretariat Ms. Najan Christopher.
The Premier and Mr. Trebucq and UN Heads of Agencies and Representatives agreed to hold a BVI-UN Forum on Sustainable Development in the BVI by the end of the Second Quarter of 2022.
The BVI and UN signed the MSDCF on 10th December which identifies four key priorities for achieving resilient sustainable development in the region: increased support to the economic resilience agenda; intensified efforts to ensure realization of human rights for all; strong commitment to enhancing inclusive disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation; and scaled up support to ensure that Caribbean societies remain peaceful and just societies.
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