Dr Terrance Drew, the Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis, led the delegation to participate in the fourth conference of SIDS (Small Island Developing States). The conference will be held at St. John’s Antigua and Barbuda from May 27 to 30.
The St Kitts and Nevis delegation led by PM Drew, also includes Dr. Denzil Llewellyn Douglas, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Dr Joyelle Clarke, Minister of Environment as well.
The conference aims to discuss a strategy for overcoming challenges and bringing prosperity and development to small island nations that are in the developing stage.
PM Drew taking to his official Facebook page, stated “Yesterday I got the opportunity to address the fourth international conference of small island developing states. Our delegation on this occasion held multiple meetings with many regional and international dignitaries.”
“I am delighted to meet Omar Shehadeh the special envoy of the UAE’s (United Arab Emirate ) Minister of Foreign Affairs to the Caribbean and Pacific states. We discussed many critical issues such as water, energy needs, financing opportunities, Sargassum, etc.” added the PM.
PM Drew also met with Dennis Francis, the president of the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
According to the Prime Minister, he along with the delegation participated in the meeting aimed at enhancing the relationship between the Caribbean and European Union countries. In this meeting which was held on the sidelines of the 4th SIDS conference, he underlined the immediate need to address climate change through innovative financing mechanisms.
It is worth noting that SIDS states are facing multiple challenges against the backdrop of climate change, the debt crisis, the adverse impact of COVID-19, etc. COVID-19 impacted those island nations hardly that are dependent on the tourism industry.
This SIDS’s fourth conference is a platform for the international community to take steps towards sustainable development. It is also an opportunity to discuss the partnership strategy among developed, developing, underdeveloped and Island nations to bring about dramatic change to address the growing challenges to Island developing nations.