PRESS RELEASE: On the margins of the 2022 Effective Development Cooperation Summit in Geneva, Switzerland, Ambassador Walton Webson, Permanent Representative of Antigua and Barbuda to the United Nations in New York,
paid a courtesy call on Ambassador Boris Latour, Permanent Representative of Antigua and Barbuda to the United Nations Office in Geneva, and Ambassador Colin Murdoch,
Permanent Observer of the Permanent Delegation of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) to the United Nations Office and other International Organizations in Geneva.
Ambassadors Murdoch and Latour warmly welcomed Ambassador Webson to Geneva and were eager to discuss key strategic priorities for Antigua and Barbuda at the multilateral organizations based in Switzerland.
Identified as major on their agendas was a more active role for Antigua and Barbuda at the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Labor Organization (ILO), and the World Trade Organization (WTO).
In recent years, Antigua and Barbuda has seen its role and prominence in global matters increase significantly. Serving as the current Chair of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS),
hosting the OECS Assembly, and now preparing to host the UN Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States (4th SIDS Conference) has brought the nation significant global attention.
As the Ambassadors candidly provided updates on their respective programs of work, Ambassador Webson emphasized the lofty undertaking of hosting the 4th SIDS Conference in 2024.
Success will require an all-Government approach and forging new partnerships.
In this regard, Ambassador Latour expressed his commitment to supporting the Permanent Mission in New York in every way possible.
He further proposed establishing a coordination mechanism between the two offices to ensure that the country’s interests are widely represented and advocated for in one voice.
Nudging the discussion forward, Ambassador Murdoch iterated that Antigua and Barbuda remains a prominent and influential member of the OECS.
The commitment of the Government of Antigua and Barbuda to strengthen the voice of the sub-region on critical issues at the WTO through his office in Geneva.
He believes that coordination between the OECS, Capitals and International Organizations could strengthen representation in the European theatre.
Ambassador Latour was recently appointed in October 2022 as the Permanent Representative of Antigua and Barbuda to the United Nations Office in Geneva.
He brings a wealth of experience in renewable energy, information technology, real estate, hospitality, agriculture, and finance.
Present at the courtesy call with the Ambassadors were Mr. Timothee Bauer, Deputy Permanent Representative of Antigua and Barbuda to the United Nations in Geneva, Mr. Joel Richards, Senior Technical Specialist, Permanent Delegation of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) to the United Nations Office and other International Organizations in Geneva, and Mr. Javier
Spencer, Adviser, Permanent Mission of Antigua and Barbuda to the United Nations in New York.
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