NEW YORK – 21st March, 2024…Member states of the United Nations have been exposed to revolutionary approaches being pursued by Antigua and Barbuda in placing Small Island Developing States on track to securing a resilient and prosperous future.
At the United Nations Headquarters on Tuesday of this week, Antigua and Barbuda updated Member States on the key principles behind two important initiatives geared at providing the necessary support and mechanisms for SIDS to overcome their significant challenges, build resilience from external shocks and achieve sustainable development.
Antigua and Barbuda’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Tumasie Blair shared details on the proposed Centre of Excellence, which will be launched at the 4th International Conference on Small Island Developing States, SIDS4.
The Centre of Excellence is a direct response to the unique vulnerabilities of SIDS and is planted on three corner stone pillars – a Global Data Hub, an Innovation and Technology Mechanism and the Island Investment Forum.
“We see the Centre of Excellence as a game changer in the way the nations of SIDS are treated. It is truly an empowering mechanism that leverages our human capacity in creating our own solutions to the diverse issues we face arising from our unique vulnerabilities,” Blair stated.
He also discussed the fine points of an innovative response to the increasing debt burden which limits the fiscal space for small island developing states to take care of even the very basic needs of their economic and social development.
This initiative, the SIDS Debt Sustainability Support Services, will also be launched at the SIDS4 Conference in Antigua and Barbuda and is being envisioned as an inclusive and ambitions capacity-building solution to ridding SIDS of their debt burdens.
To drive the process, the plan will establish a broad based Strategic Advisory Group, co- chaired by Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister the Hon. Gaston Browne and President of the Maldives, the Hon. Mohamed Muizzu.
The advisory group will include representatives of International Financial Institutions, Multilateral Development Banks, regional development banks, the private sector, members of civil society, academic institutions, think tanks and leading global economists, lawyers, debt experts and development planners.
Chairing the event was Antigua and Barbuda’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Walton Webson, who placed on record his profound appreciation for the support that the two initiatives are already receiving from major development partners and other SIDS.
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