An exposition of Grenadian culture in Brooklyn

NEW YORK, July 16, 2012 - Despite threats of heavy thunderstorms, hundreds of Grenadians converged on St Andrew’s Park in Brooklyn, New York for the Grenada, Carriacou & Petite Martinique Day.

The annual event is jointly organised by the Consulate-General of Grenada in New York and the Grenada, Carriacou & Petite Martinique United (GRENCAP).

Graced with the presence of accredited diplomats in New York, including Grenada’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Dessima Williams, Consul General Derrick James, Grenadian-born Assistant Commissioner NYC Department of Small Business Services, Gregg Bishop and Council Member Jumaane Williams ( of Grenadian parents), the activities included performances by Edson “King Ajamu” Mitchell, Kevin Rougier, Elimus “Inspector” Gilbert, Ijeal Joseph, and the Spice Isle Rhythm Jammers, among others.

Scores of stalls provided Grenadian cuisine as well as the showcasing of fancy mas costumes and art and craft.

“One of the few occasions we get in New York where Grenadians and their friends can come together and experience our culture, away from home,” said Roy McKenzie, President of GRENCAP United.

Grenadians also had the opportunity to meet a number of Grenadians who either own or manage businesses in the city, including assistant commissioner Bishop (NYC Small Business Services).

“Grenadians continue to demonstrate their appreciation for their heritage and culture and this year was no exception,” said Consul General James.

“The initial feedback we are getting is that this activity allows Grenadians to sample the many local dishes as well as to meet friends and get a prelude to Spice Mas in August,” he said.

He said that, like previous years, the committee will work on the shortcomings to make the next edition, scheduled for Sunday July 14, 2013, more entertaining.

GRENCAP expressed thanks to many of the individuals, groups, organisations and city agencies, including the New York Police Department, which supported this year’s event.

Grenada joins in Tribute to Victims of Slavery

Ambassador Williams

NEW YORK, March 26, 2012 - Today’s aspirations of people of African descent in the Americas reflect global aspirations and their contributions are found in every walk of life, Grenada’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Dessima Williams, said on Monday. 

“Thus our collective responsibility is to carry on the legacy of human dignity, justice and freedom in this hollowed institution of the United Nations,” Ambassador Williams said in her remarks delivered on behalf of the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States (GRULAC) at the commemorative meeting on the occasion of the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade.

“In Cuba, this year marks the 200 Anniversary of José Antonio Aponte´s uprising. In their long struggle for independence, African slaves and their descendants contribute decisively to shaping the Cuban nationality”.

In 2007, the General Assembly designated 25 March as the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade to honour the 28 million estimated Africans who were violently removed and cast into slavery, mainly in colonies in North America, South America and the Caribbean.

Ambassador Williams said that our collective responsibility is to carry on the legacy of human dignity, justice and freedom in this hollowed institution of the United Nations. 

“And so we bow low to bravery in the creation of freedom. We are proud that our African ancestors in the Caribbean and Latin America left their indelible mark for freedom. That is our shining inheritance, our unmitigated responsibility,” she said.  

“We recognise the strong solidarity and support that exists between CARICOM and African group who are the main member states driving the initiatives related to this Commemoration.”

Since Friday, the UN has been hosting a series of events to pay tribute to the men and women who bravely fought against the transatlantic trade as well as those who continue to stand up against modern forms of slavery.

This year’s commemoration at UN Headquarters includes an exhibition of images of heroes and activists, original documents, historical illustrated newspapers and artefacts, as well as an evening of cultural and culinary specialties of Africa and a global student videoconference.

In addition, plans are underway to erect a permanent memorial in UN Headquarters complex to remind the world that millions of Africans were violently removed from their homelands, abused and robbed of their dignity over the course of four centuries during the transatlantic slave trade.

Grenada and Georgia established diplomatic relations

NEW YORK, November 23, 2011 - A senior Georgian Government Minister is expected to make an official visit to Grenada early next year to explore various areas of relations and to create a roadmap for future relations.

This was disclosed as Grenada and Georgia signed diplomatic relations at the Ambassadorial level in New York on Wednesday.

Ambassadors Dessima Williams of Grenada and Alexander Lomaia of Georgia discussed areas of cooperation between both countries including exploring the waiver of visas (Georgia has visa-free arrangements with more than 50 countries), double taxation, agreements of projects in Energy and Education, including exchange students.

Ambassador Lomaia also disclosed that Georgia is willing to provide fully funded scholarships with accommodation to Grenadian students.

He said that as an initial gesture his Government is willing to fund as soon as possible a modest development assistance project related to climate impact.

Ambassador Williams said that today’s signing of relations, is an indication of both governments to strengthen the strong and growing relations which have developed between the two countries.

“Excellency, although Georgia is an advanced European Economy and Grenada a middle-income Caribbean country, we are confident that our friendship is sincere and well founded: for, among other reasons, we wish to pursue friendship and the elevation of Georgia 'friendship diplomacy" is worthy of emulation and pursuit,” said Ambassador Williams.

“Therefore, in friendship, Grenada invited all Georgians to the hospitality and stunning beauty of Grenada as tourist, investors, friends, and people of goodwill,” Ambassador Williams added, noting the coincidence of Today being celebrated as St. George’s Day in Georgia.

Also present at Wednesday’s signing were Mrs Marguerite St. John-Sebastian, Counsellor of the Grenadian Mission to the United Nations and Mr. Merab Manjgaladze, Senior Counsellor of the Georgian Mission to the UN.

Georgia is a democratic semi-presidential republic, with the President as the head of state, and Prime Minister as the head of government. It is located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, and bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan.

The Capital of Georgia is Tbilisi.

Grenada calls for strategies to curb terrorist financing

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

NEW YORK, September 21, 2011 - Grenada believes that there is a need to develop strategies to curb terrorist financing and its perceived and actual relationship to drugs, weapons and human smuggling.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Karl Hood told a High Level Symposium on International Counter-Terrorism Cooperation that as a small island developing state, Grenada does its share of counter-terrorism in the world today.

Minister Hood, who addressed Monday’s meeting at the United Nations’ Headquarters, said that Grenada will continue to partner with small and developing states to prevent safe havens and avenues for terrorists and strengthen air and sea port security of vulnerable states with links to targets nations and destinations.

He also said that there is need for global intelligence linkages among partnering states for the sharing of real time intelligence.

“As difficult as it may be, we must find avenues to address the problem at its core, by meeting the social and human needs of young persons and minimising the spread of the ideological concepts that drive terrorist activities,” said Minister Hood, who was speaking in his capacity as Chair of the Inter-American Committee Against Terrorism (CICTE).

CICTE is the sole counter-terrorism hemispheric body comprising all the independent nations of the Americas.

Mr Hood said that CICTE has become an effective mechanism to prevent terrorist acts that threaten the security, safety, freedom and overall well-being of our peoples and our nations.

“As Chair of CICTE, Grenada wishes to assure this forum that under its leadership CICTE will continue to pursue constructive collaboration with the United Nations and its various agencies, as well as with the private sector in order to sustain this optimum harmonized approach and unified front to countering terrorism,” he said.

In his opening remarks to the symposium, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced the creation of a UN Centre for Counter Terrorism (UNCCT). Saudi Arabia will contribute $10 million over the next three years to set up the centre, which will be based in New York and support the implementation of the strategy, as well as foster international cooperation, strengthen individual countries’ capacity-building efforts and build up a database of best practices to counter terrorism.

“What I see here today is the start of a new era in counterterrorism cooperation," Ban said. "States recognize that they cannot do it alone."  He added, “Let us chart a course that reflects our determination to defeat terrorism and build a safer, more just and peaceful world for all.”

Minister Hood was accompanied to the meeting by Permanent Secretary Sybil Alexander and Grenada’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Dessima Williams.

Country Boys hosted at Consulate in New York

NEW YORK, July 1, 2011 – The Consulate-General of Grenada in New York this week hosted an official welcome reception for one of the most popular bands from Carriacou and Petite Martinique.

The Country Boys are in New York on a three-week tour with performances which began last weekend and will culminate at the annual Grenada Day Celebrations at St Andrew’s Park in Brooklyn on July 17.

Members of the band visited the offices of the Consulate and the Permanent Mission of Grenada to the United Nations on Thursday followed by a social evening which was attended by Ambassador Dessima Williams and Consul General Derrick James.

“You are not here as Country Boys but as ambassadors of the State of Grenada,” said Consul General James. He thanked Mr Leo Joseph for organising the Country Boys’ tour to the United States.

The touring group performed to a sell-out audience at the Nazareth High School in Brooklyn on June 25 and will stage another show on July 10, followed by their opening acts at the Grenada Day Celebrations.

Grenada accedes to Convention on Cluster Munitions

(Geneva, 1 July 2011) - Grenada became the first country to accede to the Convention on Cluster Munitions in the one-step process of accession, a highlight of an unprecedented four-day diplomatic meeting on the treaty.

“The first accession to the Convention is an important milestone, and is all the more significant given that Grenada is one of the countries where cluster bombs have been used,” said Laura Cheeseman, Director of the Cluster Munition Coalition (CMC).

Grenada deposited its instrument of ratification with the United Nations on Wednesday 29 June. Since the treaty became binding international law on 1 August 2010 countries can no longer sign and then later ratify, but must undertake the one-step process of accession.

Two more countries - Thailand and Cambodia - also indicated during the meeting they are taking steps to accede to the Convention in the near future.

“This is a remarkable development in light of the fact that Thailand fired cluster munitions into Cambodia earlier this year during a border dispute-the first use of the weapon since the ban treaty entered into force. Hearing this from Thailand and Cambodia was really encouraging, and we’re hopeful this will be the first accession of many more,” Cheeseman added.

These announcements came during a landmark meeting on the ban held in Geneva.

More than 400 diplomatic representatives from 81 countries attended the first intersessional meetings of the 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions from 27-30 June 2011.

They joined representatives from UN agencies, the ICRC, and a CMC delegation of 100 campaigners from 40 countries to discuss progress against the ban.

The CMC and its global members have been actively engaging with the delegates throughout the meeting, urging them to advance their commitments to a world free of cluster bombs.

Along with the CMC and the ICRC, seven countries condemned the recent use of cluster bombs by Thailand and Libya (Australia, Lao PDR, UK, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway and Spain).

Spain acknowledged that it had transferred cluster bombs to Libya prior to signing the ban treaty, but delivered a strong statement condemning Libya’s use of the weapons in light of the widespread international ban now in place.

Other states gave updates on progress to implement the Convention.

Albania and Zambia have cleared their land of these deadly unexploded weapons and eight countries have already completed destruction of their entire stockpiles, for which the CMC commends them (Austria, Belgium, Ecuador, Moldova, Montenegro, Norway, Portugal, and Spain).

Hungary, which has not yet ratified the Convention, also announced that it had completed the destruction  of its stockpiled cluster munitions.

States also made significant headway this week in preparing for a global ban treaty conference being held in Lebanon, a country that has been devastated by cluster bombs, in September.

More than 100 states are expected to meet in Beirut under the Presidency of Lebanon’s Foreign Minister at the Second Meeting of States Parties on the Convention.

“The meeting in Beirut will be vital to establish what governments are doing to drive forward their obligations under this lifesaving treaty,” said Cheeseman.

“This week we’ve already started to see momentum gathering around states working to rid the world of cluster bombs, which is really encouraging, and has paved the way for even more progress to be made in Beirut,” she added.

SOURCE: Cluster Munition Coalition

Grenada establishes Diplomatic Relations with Malta and the Kingdom of Morocco

UNITED NATIONS, NEW YORK, May 27, 2011 – The Grenada Government this week established diplomatic relations with Malta and the Kingdom of Morocco.

Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Grenada to the United Nations, Her Excellency Dessima Williams signed the communiqués on behalf of the Government of Grenada while His Excellencies Saviour Borg and Mohammed Loulichki signed on behalf of Malta and the Kingdom of Morocco respectively.

The signing of diplomatic relations with Morocco on Friday formalised discussions on economic and technical cooperation between both countries.

Last year a Moroccan delegation headed by the country’s Foreign Minister Taib Fassi Fihri held discussions with officials in St George’s, on assistance in areas such scholarships, fisheries and agriculture.

Earlier this year, the Grenada Government received a shipment of fertiliser from Morocco, following negotiations by former Foreign Affairs Minister Peter David as part of a Grenada-Morocco cooperation agreement.

“This action is consistent with Grenada’s foreign policy and diplomacy of expanding relations across the world, especially with the African continent,” Ambassador Williams said at Friday’s signing.

“Equally, the establishment of relations today marks consolidation of relations which we began recently.”

Though a popular tourist destination for Europeans, Morocco's strongest economic sector is agriculture. Other strong sectors in the Moroccan economy include mining, energy, manufacturing, construction and services.

At Thursday’s signing of relations with Malta, Ambassador Williams said that both countries are formalising the willingness and keenness of “our governments and leaders to strengthen the strong and growing relations which have been developing between our two countries.”

She said that Malta and Grenada have begun to engage in diplomatic training in Valletta, and in collaborations at the United Nations.

“Excellency, although Malta is an advanced European Economy and Grenada a middle-income Caribbean country, we are confident that our friendship is sincere and well founded,” said the Grenadian diplomat.

Grenada deposits Instrument of Accession to ICC

NEW YORK, May 19, 2011 – Grenada became the 115^th nation to join the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Her Excellency Ambassador Dessima Williams, Permanent Representative to the United Nations on Thursday deposited Grenada’s Instrument of Accession to the Rome Statute of the ICC at a small ceremony at the Office of Legal Affairs of the United Nations in New York.

Grenada’s accession brings to 26, the number of States Parties of the ICC in Latin America and the Caribbean and the last among the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS). Only The Bahamas, Haiti and Jamaica in the Caribbean have not joined the ICC.

Ambassador Williams said: “The Government of Grenada is very pleased to join with many other CARICOM countries as well as 114 other members of the United Nations in acceding to this statute.”

“We look forward to being a very vigorous participant in the implementation of the Court to the extent that we could therefore bring about greater international law and order in the service of humanity for justice, for rights and for the efficient and legal administration of international affairs,” said Ambassador Williams.

His Excellency Ambassador Christian Wenaweser, Permanent Representative of the Principality of Liechtenstein and President of the Bureau of the Assembly of States Parties to the ICC welcomed Grenada’s accession to the Court and appealed to the remaining CARICOM states to join the ICC family.

“On behalf of 114 states that have so far made up this assembly it’s a great honour to welcome you (Grenada) as the 115^th member to this assembly and that’s a very important further step on our part towards a universalisation of this Court,” he said.

“We are looking forward toward welcoming the three remaining states of CARICOM also as part of the ICC family.

The Parliamentarians for Global Action (PGA) said that Grenada’s accession confirms and reinforces the Caribbean’s important role in making the ICC a lasting and effective reality.

Also attending Thursday’s ceremony were Gabrielle Goettsche-Wanli of the Office of Legal Affairs of the UN; Consul General Derrick James; Consellor (Grenada) Marguerite St John-Sebastian; Counsellor (Trinidad and Tobago) Cherry-Ann Millard-White; Attaché (Grenada) Tricia Keens-Douglas; Programme Director, Coalition for the ICC, Jelena Pia-Comella; Regional Programme Assistant, CICC, Tania Deigni and Programme Associate, Parliamentarians for Global Action, Leyla Nikjou.

Grenada: Capacity of Small Island States to pursue development agenda limited

NARR: The capacity of small-island developing States (SIDS), to effectively move towards the achievement of their development objectives in the areas of transport, waste management, chemicals, mining and sustainable consumption and production patterns must be viewed against the backdrop of the ongoing effects of the recent economic and financial crisis.  That's what Grenada's Representative Ambassador Dessima Williams told Commission on Sustainable Development as it began a session aimed at taking policy decisions on practical measures to bolster implementation on five areas: again transport, waste management, chemicals, mining and sustainable consumption and production patterns; and the increasing volatility of the prices of food, fuel and other commodities on which their economies of small island developing states are heavily dependent.  Speaking on behalf of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), Ambassador Williams said this increasing volatility bears heavily on the economies of small developing states in addition to the burden of the impacts of Climate Change. And she noted that challenges such as these have undoubtedly depleted the already limited capacities of AOSIS to pursue their overall development agenda.

WILLIAMS: AOSIS will continue to make known its priority issues within the key thematic clusters during these two weeks of the CSD proper, but today, we would like to take the opportunity to briefly highlight some of these main issues. Transport and communication are the life lines of the SIDS within their own countries, as well as with each other and the outside world. Furthermore, the impacts of climate change have severe negative effects on the transport capacity of SIDS, given the close proximity of our transport infrastructure to the coast and rising sea-levels. This year, the Secretary General's report on "Policy options and actions for expediting progress in implementation: transport" states that transport and mobility are essential preconditions for sustainable development. Clearly transport remains at the heart of sustainable development and SIDS remain at a disadvantage which makes this a major impediment to the growth of the SIDS economies. These factors, in addition to the geographical remoteness which characterises most SIDS, mean that transportation costs are quite exorbitant, and constrain these states' ability to provide reliable and efficient air, land and maritime transport services.

NARR: Ambassador Williams stressed that AOSIS looked forward to the Outcome Document reflecting the prioritization of adequate and sustained international support to address the high and increasing costs of transport services and communication in small island developing states, through support for improved infrastructure and networks and climate proofing. This, she said, is especially so given that the Commission on Sustainable Development is the primary intergovernmental forum for monitoring the implementation of the Mauritius Strategy and the Barbados Programme of Action.

WILLIAMS: SIDS are committed to efficient management of waste, and while significant progress has been reported for some SIDS, research shows otherwise . There remain numerous challenges which must be addressed as a matter of urgency given the negative effects which poor waste management practices are having on the sustainability of marine areas, health, food supplies and tourism in SIDS. One major challenge has been the flooding of waste disposal sites due to their proximity to coastal areas. The trans-boundary movement of hazardous wastes and chemicals also affects the marine ecosystems of SIDS given that their economic and environmental sustainability and livelihoods are intrinsically linked with the sea. It is for this reason that more effective regional mechanisms have to be developed to protect SIDS' oceans and coastal zones from ship-generated wastes and challenges posed by the transboundary movement of hazardous material.

NARR: Ambassador Williams said SIDS supported the recommendation of an earlier Commission on Sustainable Development Intersessional Conference on Building Partnerships for Moving Towards Zero Waste for the promotion of the 3R's leading to the reduction of waste at its sources and the reduction of the total volume of waste requiring disposal, as well as the reuse and recycle of waste. And on the subject of chemicals:

WILLIAMS: The use of Chemicals continues to be necessary in the economic development of all countries, including Small Island Developing States (SIDS). Therefore, the need to manage chemicals in an environmentally sound manner as highlighted in Agenda 21 and in the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation remains relevant to this day. We continue to support the effective implementation of the main chemicals-related Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAS), namely the Stockholm, Basel and Rotterdam Conventions as well as the Montreal Protocol. However, the fulfillment of all the obligations under many of these treaties remains a major challenge for developing countries, especially Small Island Developing States. In this regard, we request that a comprehensive global financing strategy for chemicals be developed as a matter of priority to support implementation of these MEAs by developing country Parties. It is also necessary to further enhance the support given to regional technical centres designated under the Basel and Stockholm Conventions so that they can effectively respond to the needs of their constituents.

NARR: Grenada's Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Dessima Williams.  This is Donn Bobb reporting.

Delegates begin arriving for COP16 in Cancun

by Michael Bascombe

CANCUN, Mexico, November 26, 2010 - Members of the Grenada delegation have begun arriving to participate in the United Nations Climate Change Summit known as the Conference of the Parties (COP16) in the Mexican Resort city of Cancun. Lead negotiators Leon Charles and Dr Spencer Thomas, both of Grenada, have been chairing pre-sessional meetings on behalf of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS).

The delegation, which will provide administrative and other logistical support for AOSIS and its 43 members, will also include government officials who will engage in bilateral meetings with other countries and organisations.

Among the objectives of the pre-conference meetings are to further prepare AOSIS delegates for participation in the Cancun negotiations as they sought clarity on negotiating strategies; political and diplomatic strategies as well as resource identification and mobilisation and fast start financing strategy.

The meetings, which are being held ahead of the official opening of the summit on November 29, are also reviewing proposals and positions from AOSIS member countries and identifying desired outcomes from the High Level Summit.

"We come here ready to work and on behalf of the Government and people of Grenada I extend appreciation for your continued confidence in the Chair of AOSIS," said Ambassador Dessima Williams, substantive chair of the grouping.

Delegates from AOSIS are also discussing reports from recent pre-COP meetings including the Ministerial meeting hosted by Grenada earlier this month.

The Chair of AOSIS, Prime Minister Tillman Thomas, is expected to join the delegation on December 4.

Grenada elected on executive board of new UN agency for women's empowerment

UNITED NATIONS, New York, November 10, 2010 - Grenada was among six Latin American and Caribbean countries elected on Wednesday to the Executive Board of the newly-created United Nations agency on gender equality and women’s empowerment.

Following the vote, Grenada was among 18 countries selected to serve three-year terms.

The elections, held in the 54-member Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), will enable the new Board to come together prior to the official establishment on 1 January 2011 of the UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women).

The 41 board members were selected on the following basis: 10 from Africa, 10 from Asia, four from Eastern Europe, six from Latin America and the Caribbean, five from Western Europe and six from contributing countries.

Elected from the group of Latin American and Caribbean States were Grenada, Argentina, Brazil, Dominican Republic and Peru.

Angola, Cape Verde, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Ethiopia, Lesotho, Libya, Nigeria and Tanzania from the African Group.

Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Japan, Malaysia, Pakistan, Republic of Korea and Timor-Leste were elected from among the Asian States.

Estonia, Hungary, Russia and Ukraine were elected from among the Eastern European States, while Denmark, France, Italy, Luxembourg and Sweden were elected from the Western European and Other States.

The Council also elected Mexico, Norway, Saudi Arabia, Spain, United Kingdom and United States from among the “contributing countries,” for three-year terms beginning today.

"This is a very significant development in Grenada's diplomacy at the United Nations, in that we can garner winning votes in a competitive environment. It also marks the bringing together of Grenada's domestic progress (on women's advancement) and international governance of the same," said Grenada’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Dessima Williams.

She said that UN Women is the most recent body in the consolidation of a new United Nations facing reform.

The 35 members elected from the regional groups will serve two-year and three-years, beginning today, as determined by the drawing of lots.

Chosen to serve two-year terms were Argentina, Bangladesh, Brazil, Côte d’Ivoire, DRC, El Salvador, Estonia, France, India, Italy, Lesotho, Libya, Malaysia, Pakistan, Russia, Tanzania and Timor-Leste.

Angola, Cape Verde, China, Congo, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ethiopia, Grenada, Hungary, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Luxembourg, Nigeria, Peru, Republic of Korea, Sweden and Ukraine were selected to serve three-year terms.

Headed by former Chilean president Michelle Bachelet, UN Women is the merger of the UN Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), the Division for the Advancement of Women (DAW), the Office of the Special Adviser on Gender Issues, and the UN International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women (UN-INSTRAW).

The new agency was established on 2 July by a unanimous vote of the General Assembly to oversee all of the world body’s programmes aimed at promoting women’s rights and their full participation in global affairs. One of its goals will be to support the Commission on the Status of Women and other inter-governmental bodies in devising policies.

It will also aim to help Member States implement standards, provide technical and financial support to countries which request it, and forge partnerships with civil society. Within the UN, it will hold the world body accountable for its own commitments on gender equality.

In carrying out its functions, UN Women will be working with an annual budget of at least $500 million – double the current combined resources of the four agencies it comprises.

AOSIS calls for urgent action to transform global economy

ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, November 4, 2010 - The Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) believes that the prospects for a significant outcome at this month’s Climate Change Conference in Cancun, Mexico have increased following a two-day meeting hosted by Grenada.

Foreign Affairs Minister Peter David told delegates at the closing session that the productive engagement has increased the possibility of a strong agreed outcome in Cancun on the basis of strengthened confidence, greater thrust and maximum agreement towards a positive outcome.

“The exchange of perspectives have allowed us to move closer and improved the environment and possibility of successful outcomes when we get to Cancun,” he said.

“We fully expect to continue this dialogue over the next week and leading up to Cancun. I feel confident that these discussions will enhance our decisions in Cancun as we will be building on a number of advances”.

More than 100 delegates including non-AOSIS members and partner organisations participated in the informal Ministerial meeting at the Grenada Grand Beach Resort which was co-hosted by Mexico and Grenada.

David said that the meeting also saw the urgent need to transform the global economy to low carbon to minimise the threat and impact of Climate Change.

“Our survival is dependent on transforming the global energy sector from high carbon emission to low carbon or carbon neutral,” he said.

“We are therefore absolutely delighted by the words spoken by our friends at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and World Bank in support of our Sustainable Energy Initiative partnership – SIDS DOCK - and we ask our friends from the developed countries to also consider supporting the partnership”.

He said that based on the positive responses from the UNDP and World Bank as well as from other countries, AOSIS and its partners will embark on a path to develop and sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in Cancun for the first phase of SIDS DOCK development.

“We have matured a great deal because of the lessons we would have learnt at Copenhagen and since Copenhagen. Thus, there is no value for us, the AOSIS Family, to engage in lamenting Copenhagen,” said Grenada’s Environment Minister Michael Church.

“Instead, we must embrace those lessons on the eve to Cancun by constantly bringing realism to our approaches and expectations”.

AOSIS continues to lend moral voice to the climate negotiations, especially emphasising the need to address global equity and climate divide issues, and in defining a clear vision and call to action.

Grenada to host AOSIS Ministerial Meeting

ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, October 17, 2010 - Grenada will host a Ministerial meeting of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) next month.

The meeting, scheduled for the Grand Beach Hotel in St George’s on November 1-2, will involve Environment Ministers from the 43 AOSIS countries.

They will be updated on the current state of the negotiations and to assess and to agree on a common AOSIS position going into the sixteenth Conference of the Parties (COP 16) scheduled for Cancun, Mexico.

Grenada’s Ambassador to the United Nations and Chair of AOSIS, Dr Dessima Williams said that the meeting will also engage negotiating partners with AOSIS’ positions and to ensure that there is a common understanding.

“The meeting is very important as a way to caucus each other and to develop a consensus position for the December meeting,” said Ambassador Williams.

“We have invited the 43-member Ministers from AOSIS countries which include 19 from the Caribbean region, 14 from the Pacific region and about 10 from the African and Indian Ocean region,” she said.

The Grenadian diplomat said that AOSIS has very clear positions for a comprehensive outcome in Cancun and very high ambitious levels of bringing down carbon emissions in the atmosphere.

“It’s not likely that any one group of countries will get all that they want but I think the meeting in Tianjin, China (United Nations Climate Change Conference, October 4-9, 2010) showed us that countries are ready to take some decisions toward a legally binding outcome, toward finance, toward capacity building and toward forestry regime for emissions”.

The COP 16 and the sixth Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP 6) will be held in Cancun, Mexico, from November 29 to December 10, 2010.

FM David: Entry visa to Canada is still an important issue

NEW YORK, September 27, 2010 – The removal of the entry visa to Canada for Grenadian citizens is still open for review, according to a senior Canadian official.

Minister of State of Foreign Affairs (Americas), Peter Kent made this disclosure when he met with Grenada’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Peter David during a bilateral meeting between both countries on the margins of the 65th Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations in New York.

“We are aware of the visa issue and let me state that this has nothing to do with the relations between both countries but rather with individuals who took advantage of the economic citizenship programme,” said Minister Kent, promising to follow-up on the progress of the review.

Minister David said that the visa is an important issue at home and a recent study gave Grenada a good rating in the proper enforcement of its passports.

“This continues to be a major issue for our nationals and our hope is that you would examine the review process since we have made tremendous strides in correcting the wrongs of the past,” said Mr. David.

The Canadian Minister told his Grenadian counterpart to encourage Grenadians to participate in the “Emerging Leaders of the Americas Programme (ELAP)”, which was announced by Prime Minister Stephen Harper during the Summit of the Americas in Trinidad in April, 2009. The goal of this scholarship programme is to support the development of human capital and promote a next generation of Leaders in the Americas while strengthening linkages between post-secondary institutions in the regions and those in Canada.

Canada is one of three countries campaigning for two non-permanent seats on the Security Council of the United Nations.

Permanent Secretary Lana McPhail and Ambassador Dessima Williams accompanied Minister David to the meeting while Minister Kent was accompanied by Mr. Neil Reeder, Director General of Latin America and Caribbean Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade.

Grenada and Azerbaijan established diplomatic relations

NEW YORK, September 23, 2010 - Grenada and Azerbaijan on Thursday signed a communiqué on establishing diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Foreign Affairs Minister Peter David and his Azerbaijani counterpart Elmar Mammadyarov signed the joint communiqué on establishing diplomatic ties between Grenada and Azerbaijan in New York on the margins of the 65th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.

The two Ministers reaffirmed their respect for the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, inviolability of internationally recognised borders, non-interference in the internal affairs and the peaceful settlement of disputes.

Minister David outlined some of the areas Grenada requires technical assistance including energy, education and health.

The Azerbaijani Minister expressed an interest in developing closer relations with Caribbean countries and requested Grenada’s assistance, as the incoming Chair of CARICOM.

They agreed to set up joint commissions to discuss areas of bilateral cooperation between both countries.

Witnessing the signing for Grenada were Permanent Secretary Lana McPhail and Ambassador Dessima Williams while Ambassador Agshin Mehdiyev accompanied Minister Mammadyarov.

Photo: Foreign Affairs Ministers Peter David (Grenada) and Elmar Mammadyarov (Azerbaijan) sign joint communiqué and witnessed by Permanent Secretary Lana McPhail (CREDIT: Michael Bascombe)

Minister Church held encouraging talks with Japan

NEW YORK, September 23, 2010 – Japan has reaffirmed its commitment to work with Grenada, in its capacity as chair of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) to work towards an outcome at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) meeting in Mexico later this year and to seek tangible results.

This commitment was reiterated during a meeting on Thursday between Minister of Environment, Foreign Trade and Export Development and a delegation from Japan’s Foreign Affairs Ministry.

Discussions centred on the thematic area of Climate Change and specifically, a request by the Government of Grenada for the funding of five projects including Batway Sandstone Reef, Waste Management, Forestry, Marine Resource Mapping and Water.

“We are seeing progress in our discussions with Japan and I am hopeful that we will soon see the results of our negotiations with the Japanese,” said Minister Church.

The meeting was also attended by Permanent Secretary, Sally Anne Bagwhan Logie, Ambassador Dessima Williams and Dr. Al Binger, Advisor to the AOSIS Secretariat.

Meanwhile, a delegation from Grenada on behalf of AOSIS will travel to Tianjin, China from September 29 to October 9, to participate in a preparatory meeting for the UNFCCC COP-16 meeting in Cancun, Mexico.

Grenada is scheduled to host an AOSIS Ministerial meeting in November.

FM David holds bilateral meetings with Costa Rica and Portugal

NEW YORK, September 22, 2010 - Grenada and Costa Rica are seeking to bolster cooperation between both countries in education and other technical areas.

This was among issues discussed between Foreign Affairs Minister Peter David and his Costa Rican counterpart Rene Castro Salazar in New York on Wednesday.

The two Ministers agreed on the exchange of language teachers as well as working together on climate change, especially through the Cartagena Group.

The Cartagena Group is a group of 27 countries seeking ambitious outcomes from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and low carbon output domestically.

Mr. Salazar pledged the support of the Cartagena Group to the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) of which Grenada chairs. He also requested an exchange of participation in upcoming meetings of the AOSIS and Cartagena Group.

The Grenada Foreign Affairs Minister also met Portugal’s Foreign Affairs Minister Luis Amado to discuss areas of cooperation.

Portugal, one of three candidates vying for two temporary seats on the United Nations Security Council, has been canvassing support for its candidacy.

Mr. David requested Portugal’s assistance in providing educational materials including the “Magellan” laptops, which are made in Portugal, based on the Intel Classmate design and developed to accelerate technology adoption in Portuguese schools.

Portugal has already made a deal to offer a million of the notebooks to Venezuela.

Minister David was accompanied by Permanent Secretary Lana McPhail and Ambassador Dessima Williams.

Photos: Foreign Affairs Ministers Peter David (Grenada) and Rene Salazar (Costa Rica) and Mr. David and Luis Amado (Portugal) during bilateral meetings in New York (CREDIT: Michael Bascombe)

T&T ENVIRONMENT MINISTER VISITS GRENADA’S UN ENVOY

NEW YORK, August 15, 2010 - Grenada’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Dr. Dessima Williams has praised the contributions of Trinidad and Tobago and other Caribbean countries to the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS).

Dr. Williams, who is also chair of AOSIS, made the comment during a meeting on Friday with a delegation from Trinidad and Tobago which included Environment Minister, Dr. Roodal Moonilal.

The representatives from the two CARICOM countries met for more than one hour and discussed a range of issues including alternative sources of energy and sustainable development in the context of climate change.

“We agreed that worldwide, economic production and consumption sectors are moving toward an energy mix that still uses conventional energy but that more and more includes a higher percentage of renewable energy such as wind, solar and biogas,” said Ambassador Williams.

The Grenada diplomat endorsed the interest of Trinidad and Tobago that more focus should be placed on promoting innovative job creation programmes in the sustainability sector.

Ambassador Williams solicited support for the upcoming Mexico-AOSIS meeting on Adaptation Financing in Climate Change which is due to be held in Grenada.

The Minister is part of a Trinidad and Tobago’s delegation visit to New York which is headed by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar.

 

Photo: L-R Mr. Eden Charles, Legal Consul (Trinidad); Ambassador Dessima Williams, (Grenada); Minister Roodal Moonilal, Mrs. Cherri-Ann Millard-White (charge d Affairs); and Ms. Ruyana Roberts, First Secretary.