RC Trebucq’s Remarks at Antigua and Barbuda’s 2023 UN Day Flag Recognition Ceremony

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:

• The Hon. E.P. Chet Greene, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Immigration and Trade,
• Ambassador Anthony Liverpool, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
• Ms. Stacey Gregg-Paige, Permanent Secretary, Office of the Prime Minister,
• Members of the Diplomatic Corps
• Representatives of Government
• UN colleagues
• Ladies and gentlemen

I am happy to join you all today in celebrating UN Day, 78 years after the signing of the UN Charter. 

78 years beyond the aftermath of the Second World War, the UN has made significant progress in advancing peace, development, and human rights around the globe. 

In an increasingly complex, volatile world, where crises, wars, existential issues like climate change are confronting us, the UN and multilateralism remain the only hope for finding shared global solutions to these challenges.

Ladies and gentlemen, Today’s Flag Recognition Ceremony is timely, as it symbolizes our mutual commitment to multilateralism.

I also wish to congratulate the Government of Antigua and Barbuda, as next month will mark 42 years of this country’s membership of the UN. (Effective November 25, 1981). 

So, this 78th year of service to people and planet signals our continuous commitment to work in solidarity to achieve the SDGs.

These last few decades have seen a fruitful relationship between Antigua and Barbuda and the UN. Through my office with the UN Team, we are forging even closer partnerships to better support national priorities in alignment with the 2030 agenda and the SDGs. 

   

Resilience-building is at the core of our cooperation agenda. We believe this is essential to combat inequality, accelerate progress towards the SDGs, and to help mitigate the multiple vulnerabilities and threats facing Caribbean SIDS.

Across borders, SIDS have made significant strides in building resilience and tackling complex global issues.

In addition, I am delighted to see that Antigua and Barbuda is taking very bold steps towards building resilience, such as developing a new national management information system for social assistance data, digitizing approved curricula and digital access to lessons in multiple subject areas to assist the expansion of inclusive learning for the nation’s children and young adults, and implementing a digital surveillance system in the health sector.

I also want to thank Prime Minister Browne for being a key figure on the international stage advocating on SIDS behalf. 



Prime Minister, you have gone on record to advance critical solutions on several issues including debt relief and the reconfiguration of the global financial structure to increase access to the finance is needed to build resilience against the dreaded impacts of climate change.  The simple matter is that if we are to be successful in ensuring prosperity for all, the issue of debt and fiscal space must be addressed as a priority. 

Prime Minister, you must also be recognized for championing solutions like the MVI that will address the issue of financing for development and making the case for small island states at the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, on the impacts of climate change, to ensure the world re-double its efforts in reducing their carbon emissions.

Against this backdrop, I would like to further recognize your government for its vision in creating a digital economy for Antigua and Barbuda.

The UN is currently supporting the development of a Digital Transformation Framework that will form part of a National Digitalization Strategy. This strategy will be a major accelerator in moving the needle on the SDGs.

To support this vision, we have increased the UN presence in-country with the placement of additional human resources to support youth and digitalization initiatives.  Antigua and Barbuda will also be one of the first few countries in the world to benefit from the roll out of the Early Warning Systems For All initiative of the UN SG.  

 Let us continue to take bold steps and remain resolute in our pursuits to leave no one behind! 

Our actions must be more assertive to produce more tangible outcomes to address emerging global challenges such as the climate crisis.  Our cooperation must be stronger and more invigorated to ensure acceleration of the SDG progress and the 2030 agenda.

I therefore give you my assurance of the UN’s continued support to Government’s efforts to place people first and  to ensure that our cooperation is strategically tailored to support national needs and priorities for a more resilient future.

Let me also take this opportunity in advance to wish Antigua and Barbuda a Happy 42nd Independence that you will be celebrating on November 1st.

I end as I began, wishing us all, a happy UN Day.