UN Resident Coordinator's Remarks at UN75 Virtual Youth Day

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: Pierre Cooke Jnr. Moderator

Hon. Roosevelt Skerrit, Chair, OECS

Dr. Didacus Jules, Director General OECS

Roshanna Trim, Chair, Caribbean Regional Youth Council

Ministers, Government representatives, esteemed youth panelists, entertainers and all participants across the Eastern Caribbean and beyond on our livestream audiences on UWI TV and Facebook Live

Good Afternoon and Happy UN DAY!

I am truly excited to partner with the OECS Commission and to spend this day with youth from across the Eastern Caribbean as we celebrate the United Nation’s 75th anniversary.

That’s 75 years of promoting peace, hope, solidarity and multilateralism!

For our anniversary, our global mission was to give everyone a voice – a say in their future / but also to develop forward looking partnerships. That is why it is only fitting that we partnered with the OECS Commission to host this Virtual Youth Day.

The UN was founded 75 years ago after the second world War.

Our founding principles of Peace, Security, Human Rights, Development and Prosperity remain the same. Our faith in our shared humanity and the value of working together to make the world a better place remains intact. While the UN was founded by 51 nations, today we have 193 members states. We have been enjoyed a fruitful and extensive partnership for more than 40 years with the Caribbean region.

Our collaborative work in the region is wide and ranges from poverty reduction and increasing social protection, gender empowerment, to improving citizen safety and food security, promoting disaster risk reduction and climate resilience and more recently COVID recovery, among other areas.  The Caribbean region can continue to count on the UN as a valuable partner in these most challenging times, particularly as the region seeks to rebuild and strengthen resilience post COVID-19.

Today’s celebration is part of the UN75 global outreach led by the Secretary General to foster solidarity and to allow every person, especially youth, to share their vision for the future, and to offer solutions.

Globally, over one million people joined the conversation, including youth from the region, who were broadly united in their priorities for the future.

In August, youth leaders from across the region participated in our youth E-dialogues, and UN75 survey, providing great insight on how we can build back better and towards a more sustainable future. You called for:

•        Digitalization and diversification of all economies to create opportunities for youth

•        Greater focus on innovation and Increased investment in creatives and the orange economy

•        Equal access to quality education and health services

•        Reduction of inequalities and more anti-discrimination laws

•        Greater focus on social and psychological development and

•        Lasting and meaningful youth engagement

Moreover, you reiterated your faith in the value of multilateralism and the importance of global cooperation. You answered the call and we have heard you loud and clear. The UN Barbados and Eastern Caribbean Sub-regional team is working to formalise our engagement with youth leaders through a Youth Advisory Board and an Issue-based Coalition on Youth Development and Youth Employment

Today’s event under the theme “Youth Voices Rising” continues our goal for greater youth engagement. We have three great panels of young leaders and entrepreneurs who are advocating for climate and environmental action, technical innovation; making strides in the renewable energy industry and orange economy.

You will debate today with Ministers and Government representatives as well as business leaders.

I am excited to witness all the valuable insights that you will share today. These are the kind of conversations that foster change and help to build more resilient societies.

I want to thank you all for celebrating our 75th anniversary and participating in this exciting event. We want to continue these partnerships as we seek to create a better world and future for us all.

But the conversation does not end here. Your voices matter NOW more than ever. If we must shape the future together it starts with YOUTH. I eaderly look forward to our continued partnership in 2020 and beyond.

Last but not least, be sure to join us tomorrow evening at 7:00 p.m. here on UWITV and UN Barbados Facebook Live for our exciting UN75 virtual concert themed: “United Together: Shaping Our Future”. It will feature some of the region’s top artists. It is our gift to the people of this region. Come enjoy with us!

Thank you.