BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, JULY 8TH 2010 (CUOPM Press Release) – Secretary General of the United Nations, His Excellency Mr. Ban Ki-moon has told St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas that the recent signing of the Revised Treaty of Basseterre establishing the OECS Economic Union sends a strong message against protectionist policies.
On the sidelines of the 31st Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) in Montego Bay, Jamaica, the United Nations Secretary General met with Dr. Douglas in his capacity as Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis and as Chairman of the Organization of the Eastern Caribbean States.
The UN Secretary General commended Dr. Douglas on his leadership of the OECS and directing the Organization in the signing of the Revised Treaty of Basseterre which establishes the OECS Economic Union.
The Secretary General said he understands the world challenges of climate change, natural disasters (floods and hurricanes) as well as world’s financial and economic crises
The UN, Mr. Ban Ki-moon said stands ready to provide any humanitarian, logistical and or technical assistance to countries in the Caribbean region
The United Nations Secretary General commended the tough stance of the Caribbean region and informed Prime Minister Douglas that the position the region was taking - which is the AOSIS stance of no more than a 1.5 degree temperature change - had received very broad support from developed countries and that only one country was not now supporting the issue
He informed Prime Minister Douglas that the matter will be reviewed when the IPCCC completes its 5th report in 2014.
Mr. Ban also advised Dr. Douglas that countries in the region should continue to speak up individually and collectively on matters that affect us and expressed appreciation to CARICOM’s Leadership for spearheading the move towards the convening of this special session on chronic non-communicable diseases.
In this regard the United Nations Secretary General thanked Prime Minister Douglas especially as the Lead Head in CARICOM on Health issues.
Dr. Douglas was informed of a meeting to be held in 2012 on Arms Trade in an attempt to forge an Arms Trade Treaty. This should be of interest to the region especially bearing in mind the current issues face with regards to gun crimes.
The UN Chief asked Dr. Douglas for an assurance that he will personally attend the Summit on the Millennium Development Goals.
In response, the St. Kitts and Nevis leader thanked the Secretary General for standing with the Caribbean region on the issue of climate change.
Dr. Douglas also expressed thanks to the UN Chief for his commendation given to OECS for their milestone achieved in the signing of the Revised Treaty of Basseterre and used the opportunity to informed the Secretary General that some special attention and support must be given to the issue of the premature graduation of small vulnerable countries who are middle income countries but who are highly indebted in terms of accessing low interest financing and access to aid flows.
The Secretary General was informed that this posed a great challenge to the development agenda of the region and those countries that are most hard hit and stands to reverse the strides that these countries have made so far in advancing their development agenda.
The UN Chief was told that the United Nations must play a major role in bringing this issue on the international agenda.
He commended the UN for having a special session on chronic non-communicable diseases which was placed into focus by CARICOM and expressed the hope that out of this special session, there would emerge some mechanism that would allow for continued monitoring and evaluation of the effects of these serious diseases.
Dr. Douglas further hoped that a mechanism would be developed for people around the world to become knowledgeable of the surrounding issues.
The St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister also gave the Secretary General the assurance that he will be in attendance at the Summit on the Millennium Development Goals.
