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Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr. The Honorable Ralph Gonsalves, delivered a compelling argument in his advocacy of Small Island Developing States at the United Nations General Assembly recently.

In his speech, Prime Minister Gonsalves reflected on the unique challenges faced by Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in a global context increasingly characterized by indifference toward vulnerable nations, making a firm stand not only for SVG but the entire Caribbean region.

Emphasizing Saint Vincent and the Grenadines as a proud exemplar of Caribbean civilization, Gonsalves spoke candidly about the inequities faced by SIDS in the international community. He highlighted the persistent struggles of small states against the disproportionate global power dynamics driven by money, ideology, and military dominance. Despite these challenges, Prime Minister Gonsalves reaffirmed the resilience of SIDS, asserting that despite their vulnerabilities, they have a permanent and meaningful place in the world and that their voices will be heard.

Prime Minister  Gonsalves called for international support, particularly for SIDS, to address social, economic, and environmental vulnerabilities. Gonsalves demanded the creation of "small island exceptionalism" as a formal category in international law to grant these states the most favorable treatment, recognizing their fragility and contributions to global development.

Prime Minister Gonsalves also criticized the global financial architecture for its failure to adequately support vulnerable countries, singling out the World Bank’s use of per capita income as a flawed metric that does not reflect the multidimensional vulnerabilities of SIDS.

His address turned sharply to the issue of climate change, where he condemned the failure of developed countries to fulfill their promises of limiting global temperature increases and providing adequate financing for climate action. Gonsalves warned that without drastic changes, the global trajectory would lead to disaster, particularly for island and coastal nations on the front lines of climate change.

As the Caribbean region continues to bear the brunt of climate change, Prime Minister Gonsalves appealed for reparative measures rather than loans, arguing that countries like Saint Vincent and the Grenadines have contributed little to global warming yet suffer disproportionately from its consequences.

Addressing a global audience, the Prime Minister reiterated his call for equity, justice, and solidarity, urging developed nations to step up their commitments to both climate action and international cooperation.

SOURCE: Agency For Public Information