United Nations Radio

Caribbean States joined representatives of developing countries to complain of a drop in trade, tighter financing conditions and a reduction in remittances. They told a UN Conference on the World Financial and Economic Crisis and Its Impact on Development that their nations were feeling the worst of the crisis while they were not responsible for it. Prime Minister of Belize, Dean Barrow, speaking on behalf of the Caribbean Community -CARICOM countries -said for the Caribbean, the current economic conditions are the worst to have overtaken the region since independence.

Grenada says the financial crisis has further exacerbated its already fragile economic situation

Grenada's Prime minister Tillman Thomas says developing countries were at the United Nations to raise their collective understanding of the impacts of the multi-dimensional crisis and contribute in the fashioning of a global response.

The Bahamas says the crisis has created serious macro-economic and human development challenges

The Bahamas says the financial and economic crisis has created serious macro-economic, social and human development challenges. Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance Zhivargo Laing says The Bahamas, with its small, open economy is heavily dependent on the performance of more developed economies. He says tourism affects directly or indirectly, all aspects of life in The Bahamas.

St. Kitts-Nevis and St. Lucia tell of efforts to combat the HIV/AIDS pandemic

The issue of HIV/AIDS remains one of the most pressing challenges facing Caribbean States. That's what the representative of St. Kitts-Nevis told a recent 2-day meeting at the United Nations that centered on successes in, and obstacles to, implementing the 2001 Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS and the follow-up Political Declaration of 2006. Ambassador Delano Bart said the State continues to be plagued with a high HIV prevalence and the impact on various sectors of society was wide-ranging. However, he said the government has taken a very responsible approach in combating the scourge and remains engaged wit the internationally-agreed goals in dealing wit the pandemic.

Producer: Donn Bobb
duration: 14'47"