United Nations Radio

ECLAC headquarters

The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of English and Dutch-speaking Caribbean nations will fall 1.2% this year, according to ECLAC's Economic Survey of Latin America and the Caribbean 2008-2009. The economic slowdown in the subregion will be less pronounced than that of Latin America as a whole (3.1%). UN Radio's Dianne Penn reports.

The UN General Assembly wraps up debate on States responsibility to protect their people from atrocities: a view from the Caribbean

General Assembly proceedings

General Assembly President Miguel d'Escoto Brockmann (Nicaragua) said in his closing remarks that the debate might have been the most intense and extensive Responsibility 2 Protect discussion to date.  Jamaica's representative Ambassador Raymond Wolfe said that regretfully, after more than sixty years, the international community still has to grapple with the consequences of the scourge which is still with us as witnessed in Kosovo, Rwanda and Srebrenica.

Haiti says the devastating consequences of the financial crisis are forcing governments to work together to find a way out

Haiti's Foreign minister Alrich Nicolas said the crisis has not spared any part of the global village and that Haiti supports the secretary-general's recommendations calling for greater oversight and a rapid response mechanism to better hedge the risks brought about by the financial sector.

Trinidad and Tobago says the global financial crisis has resulted in considerable fiscal deterioration in the region

Marina Velare and SG Ban

Ambassadpr Valere said that while fiscal balances are expected to improve over the medium term, they will, more than likely, remain weaker than before the crisis. The Ambassador also said the United Nations must embrace the suggestions and recommendations derived from this Conference in order to address the myriad financial and economic problems facing Member States.

Producer: Donn Bobb

duration: 15 minutes