Pierre made a bold appeal to global leaders, strongly recommending that speeches and pomp be put to a side. The issues which plague the world, Pierre says, need the political will and determination of each country to resolve them. The Prime Minister also demanded that the General Assembly focus on the true crises at hand, as opposed to marginalising vulnerable countries.
“There are many amongst us small and marginalised islands of our globe surrounded by rising seas and scorching rising temperatures, who are beginning to question this annual parade of flowery speeches and public pretence of brotherhood, otherwise known as the UN Annual General Assembly,” the Prime Minister said in his address to the assembly.
He says it is high time world leaders fulfil their commitments to their people, and to the world. The excuses provided by countries, Pierre warned, will prove ineffective in solving the global crisis of climate change. “Every year [when] the international community is called upon to take their agreed collective actions on the critical issues affecting the poor and the powerless, there is always some hesitation, some delay, once we vacate this historic building.”
The objective of the UN General Assembly, Pierre says, is not to police the economic actions of vulnerable countries. The UN’s focus on the Caribbean’s Citizenship by Investment Programmes is off-kilter, Pierre says.
“Our Citizenship by Investment Programmes, which we have successfully pursued for decades, are being undermined while the golden passport and golden visa programmes of some OECD countries remain unquestioned, untouched and unmolested,” Pierre stressed. Organisation for Economic Development and Cooperation (OECD) countries consist of the United Kingdom, the United States and other countries. These countries also have Citizenship by Investment Programmes which are similar in nature to that of Saint Lucia’s. Pierre however affirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring Saint Lucia’s CIP is transparent and the monies generated are accounted for.
The major global issues of climate change and sustainable development, he says, should be treated with the appropriate urgency by the developed world. “We cannot speak of accelerated action for the sustainable development goals for developing countries when developed countries do not treat the climate challenges facing developing countries with the urgency and importance they deserve,” he argued.
Pierre says he remains adamant in advancing the cause of Saint Lucians on the global stage. He adds that Saint Lucia will no longer include itself in the geopolitical agendas of the developed world which does not take positive action to ensure the safety of Saint Lucians.