United Nations Radio

Caribbean News Round-Up: a weekly 15-minute news magazine on developments at the United Nations concerning the Caribbean.

Caribbean community

The United Nations and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) need to step up cooperation in the face of the current global economic and financial crisis and work to combat serious problems such as narco-trafficking and the accompanying violent crimes.
According to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, renewed cooperation between CARICOM and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime would have an important role to play. UN Radio's Diane Bailey reports.

Commission for Social Development

Jamaica says in times of crises, societies may be tempted to abandon or neglect the weak
The current global economic situation points even more to the need for the Commission on Social Development and the wider UN system to encourage Member States to maintain their focus on the commitments made at the 1995 World Social Summit in Copenhagen, Denmark towards the achievement of a "society for all".
That's what the Director of Social Security in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security in Jamaica Colette Roberts Risden told the Commission on Social Development.
She says that in times of crises, societies may be tempted to abandon or neglect the weak.  As a result she adds, we must ensure that the vulnerable among us are protected as we strive towards an inclusive society.

Jamaica points to the effects of the current global economic slow down on the region
While globalization presents opportunities, there are also many challenges as indicated by the current global crises which began in the most developed economies and now threaten the very social fabric of developing nations.
That's what Faith Innerarity, a senior official in Jamaica's Ministry of Information, Culture, Youth and Sports told the Commission on Social Development as it discussed a UN report on the current global crises and their impact on social development.

Guyana calls for an end to an unjust global economic order
The real solution to the current financial crisis lies in a more comprehensive approach to questions of social inequality.
That's what Guyana Navin Chandarpal told the Commission on Social Development as it discussed the impact of multiple global crises, particularly the sharp worldwide decline on social development.
He said United Nations resolutions on the Organization's role in promoting a new global human order stressed the need for a broad-based consensus for action, within a comprehensive and holistic framework aimed at achieving development and poverty-eradication goals with the involvement of all actors. He quoted what he said was the original architect of the proposal for the global human order - President Chedi Jagan of Guyana.

Producer: Donn Bobb
Production Assistant: Beng Poblete-Enriquez
(duration: 14'24"