United Nations Radio

drugs

The problems associated with illicit drugs and crime are of major concern to the Caribbean region. That's what Jamaica's representative Ambassador Raymond Wolfe told the General Assembly's committee that deals with social, humanitarian and cultural affairs, during debate on crime prevention, criminal justice and drug control. He says the region's geographical location which has been a major asset to its economic development, regrettably also provides an opportunity to be used as a bridge between the major producers and consumers of illicit drugs.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines says the decline of preferential access to the UK market has presented a number of difficult challenges

bananas

St. Vincent and the Grenadines said because of challenges from various banana interests, as well as countries that did not grow any bananas, such as the United States, the country was fast losing its preferential access to the United Kingdom market. Ambassador Camillo Gonsalves said the Windward Islands grouping ships less than a quarter of what it sent to the UK 10 years ago, and their market share is in single digits.

St. Lucia says the climate crisis is a clear danger to the security and existence of small island developing states

At the heart of social development and integration is the need to value the intrinsic worth and dignity of the human person. So says St. Lucia's representative Ambassador Donatus St.Aime in a statement to the General Assembly's Social Committee at the start of debate on social development. Speaking on behalf of the Caribbean Community-CARICOM, Ambassador St. Aime said the region reiterates its commitment to achieving meaningful social integration, so all its peoples could participate in social and economic development. Yet, he added, pressures on the successful realization of the Millennium Development Goals had been exacerbated by increases in food and energy prices and the most difficult financial and economic crisis since the Great Depression.

Guyana wants to place most of its rainforest in the service of the world to help reduce carbon emissions

Rainforest countries such as Guyana provide services that are vital to the health of our planet and contribute negligibly to emissions. That's what Guyana's representative Troy Torrington told the General Assembly's Economic and Financial committee during debate on climate change. Torrington said that in light of the gravity of the climate change challenge, Guyana is ready to do its part by working with partners to create an appropriate solution. Such solution, he said, could include placing most of Guyana's rainforest in the service of the world if the right funds and market-based economic incentives are created in such a way that neither trades Guyana's sovereignty over its forests, nor restricts the legitimate development aspirations of its people.

Producer: Donn Bobb
duration: 15'00"