Grenada

It is with profound pleasure that my delegation conveys to the General Assembly at its forty-seventh session the greetings and best wishes of the Government and people of Grenada. We wish to extend to you. Sir, warm congratulations on your election to the presidency of the General Assembly at this session. My delegation commends Mr. Samir Shihabi of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the excellent manner in which he conducted the business of the forty-sixth session of the General Assembly. We take this opportunity also to extend congratulations to the new Secretary-General, Mr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali, and to commend him for the strong leadership he has brought to the United Nations and for the dedication with which he has carried out his duties since assuming office. The delegation of Grenada is delighted to welcome to the United Nations the 13 new Members: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, the Republic of Moldova, San Marino, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. The current world situation presents a scenario of unmistakable complexities. The end of the cold war, rapid democratization world wide, the emergence of new national sentiments, intolerance towards ethnic, religious and cultural differences and the formation of regional economic blocs have brought about a restructuring of programmes and a reordering of agendas locally, regionally and globally. Economic interests now appear to be given precedence in most, if not all, considerations. The proponents of those changes declare their objectives to be the creation of efficient and competitive production systems, free trade and absolute freedom from control of market forces. But those objectives, though ostensibly neutral, are in fact heavily tilted in favour of the technologically advanced economies and insensitive to the capacities and priorities of the developing countries. That there are other equally important, even primary, objectives to be achieved by the less developed countries cannot be denied. Indeed, the market economy is being perfected, and the time is right for serious responses aimed at eradicating the conditions of poverty and deprivation that are so widespread in the modern world. That process must be activated with the urgent aim of ensuring that economic progress is buttressed by social equity, freedom from want, good health and education and the enjoyment of basic human rights. Those concerns will no doubt be addressed at the proposed World Summit for Social Development, which my Government is pleased to support. If we fail to develop strategies and programmes to address those problems, then the impending conditions of increased hunger, poverty and social deprivation can culminate in very serious global unrest and instability. Grenada is dealing with this new cold economic world at both the domestic and regional levels. I wish to make it clear that the Government and people of Grenada recognize and accept that the responsibility for the advancement of our country rests, first and foremost, squarely on our shoulders. Grenada has taken steps to restructure its economy in the face of severe fiscal deficits, which threatened to erode our credit-worthiness, deny us space for growth and development and pauperize our people. Our self-imposed structural adjustment programme has its social, political and other costs. However, my Government is convinced that with prudent management of our very limited resources, a willingness to sacrifice, firm and cohesive political leadership and external assistance, we will in due course restore our economic well-being and place our country on a sound growth path. My delegation is happy to report that some improvements have already been realized, and we look forward to achieving all the goals of our structural adjustment programme. Small countries, in particular small developing island countries with all the particular difficulties that development presents to them, can hardly compete in the world arena with developed countries. While demonstrating our determination to help ourselves, we appeal to donor countries to give renewed consideration to the difficulties confronting small developing island countries; and we appeal to the international community in general for the concessions we need to attain our development goals. As we meet at this forty-seventh session of the General Assembly, a number of small island States in the Caribbean, highly dependent on the banana industry, are faced with an uncaring call by certain countries to have bananas placed within the framework of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). My delegation submits that the outcome of such a campaign could wipe out the banana industry in our islands. The resulting social hardships and political instability are costs which will be ruinous to our societies. These situations can be avoided if present conditions continue to prevail. Grenada reiterates is appeal for flexibility on the banana issue and calls upon the pro-tariff lobby to relax its efforts. At this particular time in the history of the Caribbean region, we are seized of the urgency to organize our response to the new international order. Earlier this year, regional Governments received with pleasure the report of the West Indian Commission, which was mandated to examine the conditions of Caribbean societies and to make recommendations for preparing the region for the economic, political and social challenges of the twenty-first century. The report of the Commission was very inspiring. It points the region along certain beneficial paths, and Grenada looks forward to the full consideration of the Commission's recommendations by Caribbean heads of Government in the near future. The recently concluded United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) heralded a new beginning and was undoubtedly one of the most significant undertakings of the United Nations. My Government wishes to applaud Mr. Maurice Strong and the entire UNCED secretariat for the successful conclusion of that summit and to extend our congratulations to the Government of Brazil for successfully hosting the Conference. Its real achievements should become manifest over time through the implementation of the work plan on sustainable development. Agenda 21, which comprehensively addressed the critical indivisibility of development and concern for the environment. My Government is also pleased with the conventions on climate change and biological diversity which were opened for signature at the Rio summit. We look forward to an early implementation of both conventions. The Government of Grenada urges conscientious efforts to establish the mechanisms, strategies and the resource commitments agreed to. From the perspective of small island States in particular, this is an absolute necessity. Our overriding concern for the welfare of our people and the wholesomeness of our environment, in particular the fragile marine environment upon which we are heavily dependent, compels us to register a most vigorous protest against the planned shipment of tons of radioactive material through the Caribbean Sea later this month. The problems of illicit drug trafficking and money-laundering have now reached levels that no country is able to combat single-handedly. Indeed, the security and sovereign integrity of our State, the rule of law and the well-being of our economic and financial institutions demand that we persevere in this fight. My Government wishes to take advantage of this occasion to express its appreciation for the efforts undertaken by a number of developed countries to assist developing nations in the campaign against the drug trade. We appeal for increased multilateral support to institute comprehensive measures aimed at the reduction of demand, interdiction, the rehabilitation of victims, and appropriate punishment for the couriers of this particular form of death and destruction. It is distressing to note that, while progress has been made in the political sphere in terms of the peaceful resolution of certain conflicts and the abatement of ideological tensions, the nerves of the international community are being shaken by the situation in the Balkans, most specifically, by the evidence of what is being described as "ethnic cleansing". Recognizing that peace and stability are essential to the promotion of social progress, the Government of Grenada wishes to reaffirm its support for United Nations attempts to halt the fighting in Yugoslavia, and we call upon the international community to act in a concerted manner to put a stop to what could escalate into a larger and more intractable conflict. My Government continues to be keenly interested in the situation in South Africa. The persistent violence clearly threatens the negotiating process and delays the transition to a democratic South Africa. We are concerned that while strides have been made to dismantle the pillars of apartheid, greater efforts must be made to accelerate the pace of reforms, so as to enhance the climate for free political activity and genuine democracy. The Government of Grenada therefore welcomes recent positive signals pointing to the resumption of dialogue between the African National Congress and the Government of South Africa. My Government also welcomes the peace talks currently taking place among the key parties to the Middle East conflict and wishes to counsel continued dialogue and flexibility in order to bring lasting solutions to that region's problems. Over the last year, numerous initiatives to reinstate ousted Haitian President Jean Bertrand Aristide have been frustrated. Sanctions announced by the Organization of American States have not produced the anticipated results because of the evident unwillingness of some countries to enforce the measures. My Government wishes to reiterate its support for the return to power of the constitutionally elected Government of Haiti and calls upon the international community to continue to support the restoration of Haiti's democracy. The international community is now reasonably expecting greater United Nations involvement in the maintenance of global peace and security. At the same time, more attention and resources are expected to be focused on the economic, social, cultural and humanitarian needs of the developing countries. My delegation wishes to encourage greater efforts to realize the benefits of peace dividends and to channel them towards those needs. The Government of Grenada is cognizant of the challenging efforts at revitalization being undertaken throughout the United Nations system so as to increase efficiency and cost-effectiveness. We anticipate that this revitalization will emphasize the priorities of the countries most in need the developing countries. We are convinced that the regional economic commissions are in a good position to deal with a wide range of development issues and should thus be given greater autonomy in the implementation of regional programmes. The financial difficulties confronting the United Nations are of deep concern to Grenada, as I am sure they are to many Member States. We recognize the importance of a financially strong United Nations with the capacity to deal effectively with problems of an economic, social, cultural or humanitarian character, to promote peace, security, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. At the same time, it is true that many Governments are experiencing severe difficulties in meeting their primary financial obligations. It is hardly the time for additional commitments due to reckless causes and senseless conflicts. As we approach the end of the International Decade of Disabled Persons, we must acknowledge that too little has been done to enable disabled persons to see themselves as equal citizens. In this regard my Government takes this opportunity to encourage measures aimed at enhancing the fuller participation and welfare of disabled persons in their respective societies. Despite the tremendous amount of work to be done in order to build and consolidate democracy and improve the standard of living for peoples everywhere, Grenada believe that, with the collective efforts of all States and the purposeful involvement of the United Nations, our aspirations will be achieved.