RC Trebucq's Remarks to Saint Lucia Validation Workshop to Strengthen the SDG Coordinating Mechanism

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

• Hon. Dr. Ernest Hilaire, Minister for Tourism, Investment, Creative Industries, Culture and Information (He is also the Deputy Prime Minister. RC has never met him)
• Hon. Shawn Edwards, Minister for Education, Sustainable Development, Innovation, Science, Technology and Vocational Training (RC met him in Cosa Rica)
• Hon. Joachim Henry, Minister for Equity, Social Justice and Empowerment (RC met him in October 2021 in SLU)
• Ms. Velda Joseph, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Equity, Social Justice and Empowerment
• Caroline Eugene, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youth and Sports
• Mr. Ivor Daniel, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Infrastructure, Ports, Transport, Physical Development and Urban Renewal
• Other senior officials of the Government of Saint Lucia
• Ladies and gentlemen

Good morning,  

And maybe I should also say Bon Appetit as you partake in your lovely Bel Jou breakfast.

It is my pleasure to join you, albeit remotely, for this morning’s important meeting. I wish that I could have joined you all in person.

The focus of today’s meeting on supporting SDG coordination and monitoring in Saint Lucia is critical given that the 2030 deadline is swiftly approaching.

Honourable Ministers, ladies, and gentlemen, with just under seven years to achieve these ambitious SDGs, compounded by the setbacks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, moving the needle on the SDGs is not enough. We need to push the envelope and devise creative and innovative ways to accelerate and fast-tack progress.

While the SDGs may not have traditionally been considered a priority, given the presence of pressing “bread and butter” national issues, increasingly, we are recognizing the nexus between these global goals and national development.

Earlier this month, Saint Lucia experienced one of the most unexpected, puzzling weather events – about 3 hours of rain, in one specific part of the island, resulting in over 6.2 million (EC) dollars of loss and damage. The importance of SDG 13 which addresses climate action cannot be ignored.

My office remains committed to redoubling our efforts to devise co-created solutions to advance SDG progress, starting with improvements in coordination structures and processes in support of the 2030 Agenda.

During my last visit in June, the Department of Sustainable Development requested the reinvigoration of the SDG National Coordinating Committee (SDGNCC), to reactivate and strengthen its functionality. Given the pertinent role of this mechanism in SDG coordination and monitoring, as the UN, we did not hesitate to come on board to support its reinvigoration.  

Saint Lucia was among the first in the Eastern Caribbean to establish a national coordinating mechanism for the SDGs, with many other islands now following suit. However, the mere existence of the SDGNCC is not enough.

As Ministers and leaders, your guidance on how this mechanism could be best configured and positioned is vital, since this can potentially pave the way for increased implementation assistance from interested UN agencies to support your government with SDG acceleration.

This support may also extend beyond the UN. At the UN-coordinated Development Partners meeting held in Saint Lucia two weeks ago, where we brought the donor community together in one room, we also encouraged development partners to leverage the SDGNCC as the mechanism to continue their collective dialogue with the Government.

We, therefore, look forward to the outcome of your discussions this morning, to see how we can continue to support as one UNDS.

Let me end with the words of our UN SG in his 2022 UN Day message: “Now, more than ever, we need to bring to life the values and principles of the UN Charter, in every corner of the world, by working to end extreme poverty, reduce inequalities, and rescue the Sustainable Development Goals.”

Do have a productive rest of day and have a good weekend.

Thank you!