Press Releases

Saint Lucian Appointed to UN Secretary General’s Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change

PRESS RELEASE

March 20, 2023

New York, NY (March 20, 2023) - United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, on 16th March 2023, announced the second cohort of his Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change. This is a group of seven young climate leaders who will primarily provide advice and practical recommendations towards accelerating the implementation of the Secretary-General’s climate action strategy.


Saint Lucian national Jevanic Henry is one of seven young leaders appointed by the Secretary-General to this group for a two-year period and is the first from the Caribbean region to serve on this board, with a view to ensuring the youth perspectives remain at the heart of climate action at all levels.


Jevanic is no stranger to the climate change arena having previously worked on various climate and development initiatives particularly around climate finance at the Commonwealth and United Nations level. He has also been instrumental and continues to support local youth organizations in identifying and accessing funding sources for community-based climate projects.


Speaking on his appointment, Jevanic highlights that “Our survival particularly as small island developing states, now depends on a global community which is unified in urgently advancing the climate agenda with the power of young people being a crucial catalyst to drive this much needed accelerated action.” He credits the Caribbean Youth Environment Network (CYEN) for his initial exposure years ago in helping him identify how he can contribute to driving climate solutions. It is his hope that through this role he can be an avenue through which new doors can be opened for Caribbean youth in climate action, whilst ensuring the voices of those often unheard, yet most impacted, especially from the region can be channeled to influence policy and action at the highest levels that will allow us to continue building climate resilient economies.


Jevanic is also Saint Lucia’s first Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) Fellow currently assigned to the Permanent Mission of Saint Lucia to the United Nations in New York. The AOSIS Fellowship is a programme currently funded by the Government of Italy, providing young diplomats from small island developing states with practical training in international negotiations around climate, oceans, and sustainable development issues, geared towards boosting their national capacity.

Saint Lucia and the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste Establish Diplomatic Relations

November 10, 2023
New York, NY (November 10, 2023) – In line with the continued thrust towards expanding diplomatic partners, this week Saint Lucia and the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste established diplomatic relations in New York. Saint Lucia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, H.E Menissa Rambally, and H.E Karlito Nunes, Permanent Representative of Timor-Leste to the United Nations, signed a joint communiqué on November 08, 2023, establishing diplomatic relations between the two countries. The establishment of diplomatic relations with this Southeast Asian state is part of the Government of Saint Lucia’s Foreign Policy to forge new diplomatic ties with non-traditional and other developing economies in pursuit of mutually beneficial development objectives.  As Small Island Developing States (SIDS), formalization of relations between the two nations sets the foundation for advancing efforts including addressing climate change, culture, and knowledge exchange as well as pursuing cooperation in other political and socio-economic areas.

Saint Lucia Reiterates Call for End to US Embargo on Cuba at the United Nations

November 2, 2023
New York, NY (November 02, 2023) – At the United Nations General Assembly annual debate on the resolution calling for an end to the United States embargo on Cuba, Saint Lucia joined 186 members states in condemning this blockade.  Saint Lucia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, H.E Menissa Rambally, who also delivered a statement on behalf of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), highlighted that this long-standing matter continues to serve as an impediment to the regional cooperation that CARICOM maintains with Cuba. The unselfish assistance of Cuba to Saint Lucia, the wider Caribbean and globally in furtherance of socioeconomic development and sustainability is consistent with the values and aspirations of cooperation amongst the countries of the Global South. Cooperation with Saint Lucia in health and other sectors like education, has been the foundation for an enduring bond spanning decades. Saint Lucia acknowledged the indomitable spirit of the Cuban people who continue to persevere despite the unlawful economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States. Ambassador Rambally, reaffirmed the Government of Saint Lucia’s fervent call for an end to this embargo, and expressed hope that the will of the overwhelming majority of the nations of the world is duly respected on this matter. View Statement here: https://youtu.be/Fm6fGuK2a9A?t=2208

Prime Minister Addresses the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly on September 22, 2023

September 22, 2023
Philip Joseph Pierre, Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Economic Development and Youth Economy of Saint Lucia, addresses the general debate of the 78th Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations (New York, 19 - 26 September 2023).  The UN General Assembly (UNGA) is the main policy-making organ of the Organization. Comprising all Member States, it provides a unique forum for multilateral discussion of the full spectrum of international issues covered by the Charter of the United Nations. Each of the 193 Member States of the United Nations has an equal vote. The United Nations is an international organization founded in 1945. Currently made up of 193 Member States, the UN and its work are guided by the purposes and principles contained in its founding Charter. The UN has evolved over the years to keep pace with a rapidly changing world. But one thing has stayed the same: it remains the one place on Earth where all the world’s nations can gather together, discuss common problems, and find shared solutions that benefit all of humanity. General debate website: https://gadebate.un.org/
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