WASHINGTON - IN the presence of a number of dignitaries, and nationals of St. Kitts and Nevis, Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew had outlined the challenges facing the twin-island nation when it comes to Climate Change and Sustainable Development.
The Prime Minister laid out the topics during an event to celebrate the Federation’s 40th Independence Anniversary in Washington, DC, on Friday (Oct. 6), with members of the diaspora, the United States and the Organization of American States.
Dr. Drew lamented that for too long, the Blue Economy - the marine sector - has been neglected during the era of Climate Change, noting that it is for that reason more attention must be placed on the marine resource for the sustained development of the country.
“Our size says something about us. It says that we are bold, we have the audacity, we are tenacious. We say to the world that despite our size we are not despite, but in spite of, we can stand among nations and be respected,” Dr. Drew told the gathering.
This year‘s Independence Anniversary was celebrated under the theme “Growing Sustainably, Developing Maturely, Building Resiliency: Independence 40.”, and PM Drew underscored that the theme is critically important at this time because of the challenges Climate Change poses.
St. Kitts and Nevis is one of several small island states that continue to feel the brunt of the changes, as drought conditions have been persistent across the country for the last several months, with the Minister with Responsibility for Water, Konris Maynard, reiterated earlier this year that there is a 40 percent deficit.
“Because of Climate Change…we are expecting stronger storms and hurricanes, which means that we can be hit by consecutive category five hurricanes - or even one major hurricane can wipe out over 50 percent of the GDP of St. Kitts and Nevis,” Dr. Drew told the audience.
Contributing to the development of the world is what St. Kitts and Nevis has been done over its 40 years of Independence, and PM Drew reminded that the Federation has done so in a significant manner; from Alexander Hamilton - one of the founding fathers of the United States - to the heroics of Kim Collins, the former 100m World Champion.
