RC Trebucq's Virtual Remarks at the Grenada UN Day Flag Raising Ceremony

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

• Hon. Dickon Mitchell, Prime Minister of Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique
• Ministers of Government
• Secretary to the Cabinet, Ms. Ruth Rouse
• Permanent Secretaries
• UN Heads of Agencies
• Colleagues
• Ladies and gentlemen

Good morning!

It is my pleasure to celebrate United Nations Day with the Government and people of Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique, though virtually. I bring greetings on behalf of the entire United Nations Team for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean.

It is an honour to again share a platform with you, Prime Minister, I wish that it could have been in person.

Today, we celebrate 77 years since the entry into force of the United Nations Charter in 1945, and 48 years of United Nations friendship, partnership, and support to the Spice Isle. With this Flag raising ceremony we celebrate both anniversaries holding steadfast to the values of peace, justice, and human rights for all.  

I am thrilled that efforts to engage youth in this year’s observance include a Youth Symposium surrounding Grenada’s transformational agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals as well as the hosting of a daily quiz for students on the work of the UN, in partnership with the Grenada Broadcasting Network.

I understand also that Grenada is lighting up its Parliament Building in blue this year in observance of UN Day. This evening we will also be doing the same at UN House, in collaboration with various partners including the Government.  

This year, however, we celebrate our 77th anniversary at a time when the world is struggling to recover from the COVID crisis, while still battling climate change, and a triple crisis of food energy and finance. It cannot be business as usual. Now more than ever our collective efforts must accelerate progress on the SDGs to truly leave no one behind.

In January this year, Grenada signed the 2022-2026 UN Multi-country Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (MSDCF), which serves as the blueprint for planning and implementation of our development cooperation in the region. Its priorities are (1) to accelerate  progress to attain the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and (2) facilitate faster recovery from the socio-economic impact of COVID-19.

Grenada is also among seven countries to date which have finalized and signed accompanying Country Implementation Plans (CIPs), tailored to national priorities, and needs. However, we look forward to further consultation with your Government PM, to strengthen this instrument.

Our partnership with Grenada remains strong as we have worked, to deliver on our new cycle of cooperation for the region. Grenada’s progress has been inspiring as the country has taken some bold but progressive steps. For instance:

1. Grenada’s National Sustainable Development Plan  2035 was designed in alignment to the  SDGs.
2. In agreement with the Government, a Satellite Office was set up
3. A Voluntary National Review, was completed in July this year
4. And the Grenada Spotlight Initiative Joint Programme shows tremendous promise in addressing violence against women and girls

I have been following your speeches Prime Minister, committing the Government to gender-responsive action on several key areas including planning, innovative climate-resilient and climate-smart practices, digital, blue, green, and creative transformative economies, strengthened data management systems, advocacy for development financing, and youth engagement.  UN initiatives in the CIP include all of these as well as enhanced health and social protection delivery, improved data management capacity, gender- responsive planning, improved relevance of and access to education and so we see tremendous value in our collaboration with Grenada.

Over the past two years, under the UN Reform, resilience-building and access to financing have been central to our cooperation agenda. As Grenada , and by extension the region, attempts to build back from COVID 19  and face the new Triple Crisis, we are expanding Joint Programmes here, and in the region, to provide support. These include the Resilient Caribbean Programme to engage youth and strengthen social protection delivery and the Programme to address Food Security and Livelihoods Resilience in Response to the Global Crisis on Food, Energy and Finance.

The UN team for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean will continue to advocate at the highest level, for the region to access the resources needed to effectively minimize vulnerabilities, reduce debt, and accelerate progress towards the SDGs, including at COP 27, now only one week away.

We look forward to working closely with you to successfully implement these programmes and to achieve a bright and prosperous future for all Grenadians.

Happy UN Day!