Together for the SDGs – UN and Government take the SDGs into the Community
UN Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean has joined forces with the Government of Barbados to take the SDGs to the people
On Saturday, December 9, the City of Bridgetown came alive with the SDGs, as multiple UN Agencies and Government departments staged “UN in the City,” an SDG-themed exhibition in Golden Square Freedom Park.
In delivering welcome remarks, UN Resident Coordinator, Didier Trebucq, said the outreach initiative aimed to promote how we land the SDGs in a country like Barbados, to highlight the collaborative work being done by the Government and the UN Development System, and to demonstrate the UN’s proactiveness to help advance sustainable development for all.
The world at a critical juncture and Barbados ahead of the curve in its progress
“We are really at a critical time where we are very severely lagging behind worldwide, we are not on track to achieve many of the 17 SDGs and that’s why we have to make an extra effort to accelerate to ensure that we can deliver for the people, the promise that was made in 2015,” he said.
The UN Head, however, commended the Government of Barbados for being ahead of the curve. “What I have to say is that Barbados has made tremendous progress and is demonstrating tremendous leadership to go an extra mile to deliver,” he added while noting progress made towards ending gender-based violence, improving quality education, improving access to universal health, transitioning to renewable energy, and fostering climate resilience.
“I really want to commend all the work that is being done by those Ministries here, by the Government, and with civil society to build a better future for all. I am immensely proud that the UN System, through the various UN agencies present here, and others, have a chance to contribute to this important progress, and this is what we want to showcase today.”
Mr. Trebucq underlined the importance of going into households and communities so that the UN “could be accountable to the people on what we do here in Barbados.”
Barbados Member of Parliament breaks down the SDGs
Member of Parliament for the City of Bridgetown, the Hon. Minister Corey Lane, while lauding the strides made by the Government, expressed concern that oft times, ordinary Barbadians and citizens around the world, are unable to make the connection between the SDGs and their impact on their daily lives.
“If you do not understand climate crisis, then you could understand littering equals flooding. Please understand that not taking care of the environment is tantamount to blocked drains and your house being washed away. Let us break it down so every citizen of the world understands the SDGs must be the goal of everyone,” he emphasized.
Minister Lane expressed the hope that partnerships between the UN and the Government would be further strengthened to create a sustainable future for future generations.
During the four-hour showcase, patrons enjoyed lively entertainment, quizzes, spoken word performance, SDG games and giveaways. The highpoint of the day, for many, however, was the opportunity to speak directly with Government and UN officers, to learn more about how their work translated into SDG progress and how they as ordinary citizens could #ActNow for the Global Goals.
Written by
Carol A. Gaskin
UN entities involved in this initiative
Goals we are supporting through this initiative
