Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister advocates for SIDS in frank address to UN High Level Political Forum
- JOHN’S, Antigua & Barbuda – 13thJuly, 2023…Prime Minister the Hon. Gaston Browne has sounded yet another fervent appeal for the grave issues that his country and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are being forced to tackle, to be addressed with a new sense of urgency.
The Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister held very little back as he delivered the keynote address via livestream on Monday from St. John’s to the United Nations High Level Political Forum SIDS session on Sustainable Development. The SIDS event is convened yearly in order to seek solutions to many of the grave concerns which exposes the island nations to a variety of external shocks, and limits their ability to achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The rising tide of debt for example is a major burden which many countries like Antigua and Barbuda have struggled to overcome. Prime Minister Browne likened it to a “weighted vest dragging us further down. It is not the life jacket it pretends to be.”
“We are asked every year to demonstrate, remonstrate and find new ways to justify our call for debt relief,” Prime Minister Browne said in a clear expression of frustration. But despite the very best efforts, solutions to lift island nations from the debt crisis remain out of reach. “…to be perfectly frank, these are all rehearsals for what is really needed. The things nobody ever want us to say out loud but I am going to say them anyway,” he declared.
“We need grant based finance. We need debt forgiveness. We need others to know that these requests do not constitute handouts. Most of all, we need to be believed and we need you to honour your commitment to us,” Prime Minister Browne further stressed.
Prime Minister Browne is the co-chair on the High Level Panel of the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index (MVI), which has been identified as a practical tool for developed countries to get an accurate measure of the needs of these countries so as to determine the scale of assistance they require.
“It provides the unbiased justification SIDS need for International Financial Institutions like the World Bank and the IMF to no longer simply ignore our light when we are inevitably struck by crises beyond our control,” Prime Minister Browne noted.
He was quick to add however that the MVI is not yet where it needs to be, but called it absolutely necessary. “We will be banging on the door for another 30 years without it. In the face of multiple global shocks and new and emerging shocks, 30 more years we simply do not have,” the Prime Minister stated.
Antigua and Barbuda will host the 4th SIDS Conference next year, a major opportunity for island nations to accelerate the process towards the future that their countries need. Hailing it as a unique opportunity, Prime Minister Browne said it will “ensure that the next 10-year blueprint for SIDS is one that delivers ‘resilient prosperity’ for all SIDS.”
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Leadership matters. Best representative Antigua and Barbuda has ever had. Big Up to the World Boss.
@ From the Sidelines:The Executive of a Major Financial Company
Everyday Gaston wakes up he pissed on Antiguans and Barbudans and tell them its raining. Gaston is world class leadership in knowing how to piss on his people.
Do your homework Mr. Executive
This is a classic case of PR bull written by the man in Washington DC. who is well aware that
Countries and companies holding Antigua debt don’t care what Gaston has to say.
Antigua and Barbuda borrow the money and have the infrastructure that the debt was suppose to create to support the economy to service the debt.
How about asking for debt relief from China?
A lot of the debt has been sold to Wall Street. Gaston done even know that. He needs to have a chat with Motley so he can be informed if not educated
Gaston is just a local side show when are the real deal
https://focus2030.org/Summit-for-a-New-Global-Financing-Pact-towards-more-commitments-to-meet-the
This is what the developed countries are looking at. Not Gaston beggie beggie one day and cuzzing out another day
https://www.globalpolicy.org/en/event/2023-06/bridgetown-initiative
No wonder he was chosen to be the voice of the SIDS. And has been representing them for years now. And who is championing the case for the polluter to pay now for years.
Hating the man wouldn’t take away from his accomplishments abroad.
Whilst you’re there Prime Minister Browne, can you make contact with Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus of the WHO, and also have some STRONG words with him about wanting to over-ride Antigua & Barbuda’s sovereignty.
I am a patriotic Antiguan, and do not want any outside bodies or organisations (who I haven’t voted for) telling me – or even you – how to conduct our own issues.
PEOPLE TELL ME YOU KNOW HOW TO BOX AS WELL … AH SO?
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