New Resident Coordinator Presents Credentials in Antigua and Barbuda

The new United Nations Resident Coordinator for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, Simon Springett, is currently ending a two-day Mission in Antigua and Barbuda after presenting his credentials ahead of key meetings with Government and national officials.

Yesterday,  Mr. Springett formally presented his credentials to Minister of Foreign Affairs, E.P. Chet Greene, and met with Prime Minister the Hon. Gaston Browne, ahead of courtesy calls with the Cabinet of Antigua and Barbuda, as well as other key stakeholders.

Prime Minster Browne expressed gratitude for the support received from the UN Development System for several initiatives including Digitalization, Innovative Finance, and the recently concluded SIDS conference. Prime Minister Browne highlighted Antigua and Barbuda’s commitment to multilateralism, evident by the country’s latest ranking by the UN, ranking Antigua and Barbuda as the second-best country with support for the UN’s multilateralism efforts. PM Browne further pledged to continue working closely with the UN and looks forward to the increased UN presence in Antigua and Barbuda in the UN Common Premises. 

Meanwhile, the new UN Head gave assurances of continued UN partnership and expansion of support. Mr. Springett expressed: “I am honored to be in Antigua and Barbuda once again, having recently visited attending the SIDS conference, and pledge my commitment, along with the UN Team, to support the Government in fulfilling its development objectives.”

Mr. Springett in his meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Agriculture, Trade and Barbuda Affairs, the Hon. E.P. Chet Greene reaffirmed the UN commitment to support Antigua and Barbuda with the implementation of the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS (ABAS). 

Minister Greene expressed appreciation for the UN presence in Antigua and Barbuda and emphasized that it has made a tremendous difference for Antigua and Barbuda and would like to see an increased presence of agencies on the ground. He thanked the Country Coordination Officer, Andrea Andrew for her work coordinating the UN in the country and looks forward to continuing working closely with the Resident Coordinator Office. 

The Mission also included meetings with the UN Team on the ground and members representing Antigua and Barbuda for the UN Youth Advisory Group, engagements with Civil Society Organizations, Police, and government officials responsible for the National Office of Disaster Services.

On June 1, Mr. Springett was appointed by UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, as the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, with the approval of the host Governments. A national of the United States, he brings his distinguished 25-year career in international development to this critical role, having most recently served as the UN Resident Coordinator in Moldova since 2019, leading the UN’s efforts in that country.

As the highest-ranking official of the UN development system in the Eastern Caribbean, Mr. Springett will lead the UN Sub-regional Team (UNST) across 10 countries and territories. He will champion the UN’s mandates and advocate for the delivery of the MSDCF in close collaboration with national governments and regional institutions. A key focus will be strengthening cooperation and effectiveness of UN operational activities throughout the region.

In the coming weeks, the new Resident Coordinator is expected to present his credentials to other Member States in his area of responsibility