Grenada

I am indeed greatly honoured to join those who preceded me in congratulating the President on his election to the presidency of the sixtieth session of the General Assembly. I assure him of Grenada's support as he guides the deliberations during this historic year towards the promotion and maintenance of international peace and security. My delegation would also like to express its appreciation to Mr. Jean Ping, who laboured assiduously during his presidency of the fifty-ninth session, for his tireless efforts in guiding the preparatory work for the High-level Plenary Meeting. In addition, Grenada commends the Secretary-General for his energetic pursuit of change at the United Nations. We subscribe to the Secretary-General's view that the world cannot be a safer place without development and poverty eradication. Permit me, at this juncture, to extend, on behalf of the Government and people of Grenada, empathy and profound sympathy to the Government and people of the United States of America, particularly those of the Gulf states, for the loss of life and severe destruction of property suffered as a result of Hurricane Katrina. When the Millennium Declaration was adopted, many viewed it as a landmark document containing the blueprint for the eradication of poverty and as a vehicle to transform the condition of humankind in the twenty- first century. While it did not take on the momentum that we had hoped for, we have now moved to review its implementation. This year, the outcome document adopted by heads of State and Government at the conclusion of the High-level Plenary Meeting gives us another chance to address in earnest the commitments that were made in the Millennium Declaration and at major United Nations conferences. Grenada is heartened by the recent renewal of commitment to development and security, including poverty eradication and the endorsement to positively transform the world for the betterment of our peoples. We also welcome the efforts made to address the special needs of Africa. Those are high ideals, but we are convinced that peace, security and prosperity can only be achieved globally with the commitment, 5 sacrifice and concerted, cooperative efforts of all Member States. We welcome the creation of a Peacebuilding Commission to ensure post-conflict recovery where it is most needed, and especially to focus on issues relating to women and children within that process. Grenada also supports the strengthening of the human rights machinery through the creation of a Human Rights Council, and we resolve to participate in the negotiations to establish a working mandate for that body during the sixtieth session of the Assembly. Grenada welcomes the outcome document's strong condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. We regret, however, that there has been no meaningful progress on the issue of disarmament and non-proliferation and call for continued negotiations in that regard. Reform is vital in order for this unique Organization to reflect the aspirations of its 191 Member States. It is extremely important that the United Nations address the burning issues and realities that preoccupy the global community. Grenada fully supports the measures called for in the Secretary- General's report, "In larger freedom" (A/59/2005), and remains convinced of the usefulness of addressing peace and security on a broad spectrum. Grenada agrees that Security Council reform is imperative. The Council must be expanded in a manner that will convince every region of the world that they have an active voice in one of the most important and powerful organs of the United Nations. Grenada, like the other countries of the English- speaking Caribbean, places a high priority on the reorganization of the Economic and Social Council. The Charter clearly designed the Economic and Social Council to address development. In the twenty-first century, therefore, the Economic and Social Council must have, as the outcome document states, a more focused agenda built around the major themes contained in the Millennium Declaration. The theme for this year's deliberations is well chosen and we accept the challenge to work towards that goal. Grenada hopes that United Nations reform and the implementation of the goals set out in the outcome document will come to fruition soon, in order to ensure a stronger Organization and a more just world. My country, Grenada, knows quite well the challenges faced by developing countries. In less than one year Grenada experienced two hurricanes, causing infrastructural damage amounting to 250 per cent of our gross domestic product (GDP), crippling the tourism sector, increasing unemployment to 31 per cent and having an immeasurable psychological and social impact on our population. Prior to those events, Grenada was well on track to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) of universal primary education, lowering child mortality rates, and reducing the poverty rate by half. Also high on our country's agenda was the implementation of policies to combat diseases, including HIV/AIDS. Today, even with the most rigorous national efforts, if Grenada is to achieve the MDGs, it can only do so with substantial financial and technical assistance. Currently, countries of the Caribbean face growing unemployment and poverty because of the recent World Trade Organization ruling that resulted in the removal of preferential arrangements that once facilitated our trade. As a direct result, two of the industries most vital to the Caribbean ó bananas and sugar ó are rapidly declining, sending thousands to the bread line and abject poverty. Here, I would refer to the statement made yesterday by the Prime Minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis, which confirmed the effects that the demise of the sugar industry is having on his country. Countries of the Caribbean require more than just aid; for aid alone cannot eradicate poverty. What Caribbean countries desire most fervently are trading opportunities. We crave opportunities that will recognize the diversities and disparities in the economic world. Given our disadvantageous economies of scale, our limited land mass and our late admission into the international economic order, it is impossible to make progress without special concessions. Grenada has no desire to see its future generations become mendicants, seized by poverty and a lack of opportunities. The MDGs, as well as United Nations declarations, constitute a global partnership for development. Both the developed and developing countries are called upon to implement changes and adjust their modus operandi to advance a more secure and just world. 6 We applaud the European Union for its decision to increase its overseas development assistance to the recommended 0.7 per cent of their GDP. However, we urge them and other developed countries to continue to provide freedom in trade with developing countries, in order to facilitate the transfer of technology and to assist with our environmental protection. Those of us in the developing world have also given our commitment to devise national policies to improve the standard of living of our people, promote education, practice good governance and strive for better health care for all. That, however, is virtually impossible in the current international economic climate, as some international regimes seem committed to crippling the economies of developing countries, in particular those of the Caribbean. Hurricanes and other natural disasters add to the Caribbean region's challenges and remain a very real and formidable enemy. Grenada acknowledges that natural disasters are unavoidable phenomena that cannot be stopped. However, we can mitigate their effects, ease human suffering with sound measures and speed up recovery by designing mechanisms conducive to quick responses, particularly from the international community. From hurricanes to tsunamis, from floods to droughts, we have come to realize that natural disasters know no boundaries and do not differentiate between developed and developing countries. In the light of scientific predictions that indicate an increase in the frequency and intensity of natural disasters, we must address this matter and give disaster mitigation a high priority on our agenda. I recall that during his address to the Millennium Summit five years ago, the Prime Minister of Grenada, the Right Honourable Keith Mitchell, joined his colleagues in making a clarion call for the establishment of a disaster relief fund to facilitate quick responses to aid victims of hurricanes, earthquakes, volcanoes and other natural disasters that strike us with such frequency and ferocity. I wish to reiterate that call today in light of the realities that now surround us. Some countries, particularly small island developing States, are extremely vulnerable and can experience a complete reversal of economic, social, cultural and infrastructural progress with the passage of one natural disaster, as was evident when Grenada was struck by Hurricane Ivan in September of 2004. For small islands it is exceedingly difficult to stop the downward spiral that disasters can cause. Generally, recovery is virtually impossible without major international assistance. Grenada welcomes the reference made to the vulnerabilities of small island developing States. We look forward to the effective implementation of the Mauritius Strategy for the Further Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States in the very near future. Grenada implores Member States to support the call of small island developing States for special recognition of their vulnerabilities. In the same vein, I turn now to the issue of the Caribbean Sea. Our economies derive tremendous benefits from the resources of the Caribbean Sea. In fact, the annual estimate of the economic value to Grenada of production from the sea is more than 30 million Eastern Caribbean dollars. That is a contribution that we as a people strongly feel must be conserved, preserved, maintained and protected, not merely for this generation, but for future generations. I would like specifically to refer to the trans- shipment of radioactive materials through our waters, which continues to pose a tremendous threat to the human health, marine life, ecosystems, tourism and economies of the region. As has been repeatedly affirmed by Grenada and other Caribbean Community member States, that practice must stop. Grenada once again calls on those concerned to desist from such activity. We welcome the reference made in the outcome document in that regard, and further urge the international community to be more cognizant of the situation and its impact on our economies and our peoples. Since this matter is of grave importance to the Caribbean region, we will continue our efforts to have the Caribbean Sea designated as a Special Area in the context of sustainable development. Finally, judging from the commitments made over the past few days, it is clearly evident that Member States are willing to take up the challenge to implement the necessary reforms to strengthen this body. We too pledge our full support to that process, despite the bleak economic realities we currently face.