Illustrative image
United Nations, Sep 24 (RHC) The prime misters of the Bahamas, Philip Edward Davis, St. Vincent, and the Grenadines, Ralph Gonsalves, and Grenada, Dickon Mitchell, condemned the unjust U.S. economic, commercial and financial blockade against Cuba.
Speaking at the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly, the Caribbean leaders opposed the sanctions imposed by the U.S. Government on Cuba for more than six decades, which, added to the impact of Covid-19, "have greatly worsened the existing difficulties of its people".
They called for the Caribbean to remain a zone of peace and for Cuba to be removed from the U.S. List of State Sponsors of Terrorism.
They also regretted that more has not been done to help Haiti -a member of the Caribbean Community- achieve political stability, peace, and economic progress.
They also spoke out against imperialist attempts to subvert the elected governments in Venezuela and Nicaragua.
In their respective speeches, they noted that among all the challenges facing the international community, none requires more urgent action than the climate crisis.
Calling for climate justice and equity, the Prime Minister of the Bahamas asked why small island developing states, which have contributed so little to the problem, experience the greatest burdens.
He added that the Bahamas is also actively defining ways to safeguard its shallow seas, mangroves, and seagrasses, all of which act as a major carbon sink for the world, and invited those with technological solutions to bring their innovations to his country.
Davis expressed his support for reforms in the global financial system and added that international financial institutions can and should forgive debt incurred due to the economic shutdown caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
For his part, the head of government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines noted that his nation's development is hampered by banking "blacklists," sanctions, and misinformation.
Calling for proper reform of the United Nations, Gonsalves encouraged the continuation of "partnership among all nations" to ensure peace and security.
Meanwhile, the prime minister of Grenada noted that for small island states to eliminate poverty and achieve sustainable levels of development, the vulnerability criteria must be reviewed as a matter of urgency.
To that end, he called for a new multidimensional vulnerability index for small island developing states, which would "remove the threat to our economic development and security," Mitchell said. (Source: PL)
