St. John¡¯s, Antigua and Barbuda
Hon. Everly Paul Chet Greene, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Agriculture, Trade and Barbuda Affairs,
Mr. Neal Simon, President of the American University of Antigua,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is my honour to be here, in the beautiful island nation of Antigua and Barbuda, as we prepare to raise the 51³Ô¹Ï flag over the Fourth International Conference on Small Islands Developing States, or SIDS4.
The 51³Ô¹Ï flag is a symbol of peace, unity, and hope for a brighter future. When we raise the flag here in Saint John¡¯s, we are signalling that the world stands in solidarity with small island developing States from across the globe. Member States, the UN system, civil society, businesses, people of younger and older generations, from all regions, are here together because we are committed to a sustainable future for SIDS.
Ever since the first SIDS conference in 1994, in nearby Barbados, SIDS have been articulating their sustainable development needs, priorities, and aspirations. The Barbados, Mauritius, and Samoa conference outcomes marked important moments in the SIDS sustainable development journey. More importantly, those conferences demonstrated the strong leadership that we have come to expect from SIDS.
This tradition of SIDS leadership continues here in Antigua and Barbuda. Under Prime Minister Gaston Browne, our host country has guided the preparations for this Conference with wisdom, clarity, and dedication. When Antigua and Barbuda proposed the conference theme, ¡°Charting the course toward resilient prosperity,¡± it was obvious that our hosts had a vision for SIDS4, and indeed for the next ten years of SIDS sustainable development.
In these incredibly challenging times, ¡°charting a course,¡± and navigating the future, is difficult for any nation, And SIDS, with their inherent vulnerabilities, face particularly rough seas. Fortunately, SIDS share a proud history of navigating the world¡¯s oceans, from the voyagers of the Pacific to fishers and captains of the Atlantic and Caribbean.
SIDS are resilient and resourceful. They have proven leadership in fields and industries that range from traditional tourism and fisheries to renewable energy and tech-enabled sectors.
¡°Resilient prosperity¡± will flow from diversified, climate proofed economies, and this conference will provide a platform for exploring and investing in SIDS growing potential.
Successful navigation¡ªwhether crossing oceans or mapping our common future¡ªtakes a combination of tools and knowhow. We need data, we need the latest technology and scientific knowledge, and we need investment in human capacity. We also need sparks of creativity and innovation, and sometimes we may need to look up to those old navigation aids - the stars - for inspiration.
As Secretary-General of SIDS4, I am confident that this Conference will map a course of concrete actions and investments, and also deliver rays of hope and sparks of inspiration.
We will now raise the UN flag, together with the flag of our host, Antigua and Barbuda, symbolizing our shared voyage toward resilient prosperity for SIDS.
Thank you.