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UN, Development Partners Convene Meeting to Support St. Vincent and the Grenadines' Resilience

25 July 2023

Caption: The meeting, which was held in Kingstown, sought to strengthen the tripartite relationship between the government, development partners, and the United Nations, and to identify ways to stabilize and improve the prospects for the region's long-term sustainable development.

Photo: © The New York Times/Erik Freeland

St. Vincent and the Grenadines hosts Development Partner's Coordination Meeting to strengthen resilience after La Soufrière eruption and cost-of-living crisis.

Two years post the eruption of the La Soufrière Volcano, and while navigating the turmoil of the ongoing cost-of-living crisis in the region, the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines in partnership with the United Nations Resident Coordinator’s Office, Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, recently hosted a Development Partner’s Coordination Meeting, under the theme “From Recovery to Resilience”.

The meeting, which was convened in Kingstown, sought to strengthen the tripartite relationship between the Government, Development Partners, and the United Nations, and to stabilize and improve the prospects for the region’s long-term sustainable development.

This is critical, given the myriad challenges that have plagued the St. Vincent and the wider region over the past two years, including perennial vulnerability to climate change and natural disasters, increased inequalities wrought by the Covid-19 pandemic and the Triple Crisis of food, fuel, and finance, high debt burden, and rising crime, which together have deepened inequalities among the most vulnerable populations and stymied progress on achievement of the sustainable development goals (SDGs).

In delivering opening remarks to the forum, UN Resident Coordinator, Didier Trebucq, noted, that its theme, “From Recovery to Resilience”, was timely given St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ transitions from successive shocks, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the eruption of the La Soufrière Volcano, and the cost-of-living crisis, as well as perennial challenges including increased indebtedness and limited access to development finance.

Click here to read the Resident Coordinator's full remarks.

Man at podium speaks to an audience with flags in the background — Caption: In his opening remarks, UN Resident Coordinator Didier Trebucq noted that the meeting's theme was timely given St. Vincent and the Grenadines' transitions from successive shocks, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the eruption of the La Soufrière Volcano, and the cost-of-living crisis.

Photo: © UN Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean

“This current situation demands that stronger and more strategic partnerships be formed, to maximize the impact of development assistance in support of your national priorities to build resilience,” Mr. Trebucq stated.

He further added; “Acting Prime Minister, I must commend your government’s leadership and the progress made in building resilience. The efforts towards improvement of infrastructures, building the tourism sector, enhancing access to education, and capitalizing on the blue economy, are just some examples.”

Man standing at podium facing the audience — Caption: Acting Prime Minister Montgomery Daniel thanked the United Nations and development partners for convening the meeting, and called for greater focus on indigenous/ethnic groups, forest restoration, and climate action in support of the development agenda for St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Photo: © UN Barbados and Eastern Caribbean

In his address, Acting Prime Minister, Hon. Montgomery Daniel, thanked the United Nations and development partners for convening the very important meeting, as his country transitions from recovery to resilience. In calling for greater support from the UN Development System, he requested that greater focus be placed on indigenous/ethnic groups, forest restoration, and climate action in support of the development agenda for St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Watch the full event replay:

Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Information Technology, Hon. Camillo Gonsalves, in outlining Government’s achievements and strategic priorities for building resilience, noted that development priorities in the medium term will focus on climate resilience, agriculture, blue economy, digital transformation, entrepreneurship, health, and advances in education, social protection floors and citizen security.

The meeting brought together stakeholders from the UN Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean Sub-regional team, development partners, donor agencies, government ministers and senior public servants, across various government ministries and departments.

Media Contacts:

Carol A. Gaskin

Resident Coordinator Office,

Development Coordination Officer, Programme Communications and Advocacy

Email: carol-ann.gaskin@un.org | Tel: +1 (246) 467-6110; Mobile +1 (246) 832-6110

La Fleur Quammie

UN Resident Coordinator Office,

Country Coordination Officer, St. Vincent and the Grenadines

Email: lafleur.quammie@un.org | Tel: +1 (784) 530-8602; Mobile + 1 (784) 534-8099