Dominica, 2011

On behalf of my

delegation and the Government and the people of the

Commonwealth of Dominica, I would like to

congratulate His Excellency Mr. Nassir Abdulaziz

Al-Nasser on his assumption of the presidency of the

General Assembly at its sixty-sixth session, and to

assure him of our full cooperation. We are confident

that with his skills and experience, he will bring

leadership to this Assembly as it addresses the

extensive and important agenda of this sixty-sixth

session.

I also extend a special welcome to the newest

member of this Assembly, the Republic of South

Sudan, which became the 193rd Member of the United

Nations in July.

I would also like to convey Dominica’s

appreciation to Mr. Al-Nasser’s predecessor, His

Excellency Mr. Joseph Deiss, for having so ably guided

the proceedings of the sixty-fifth session of the General

Assembly. We also express our gratitude for the

continued efforts of His Excellency Mr. Ban Ki-Moon

and for his leadership at this most challenging time.

This meeting is being convened at a time of

tremendous global insecurity. Never in the history of

humankind have we had to struggle for our own

existence as we have done in this past decade. We are

still faced with unstable global financial markets,

issues of food availability and affordability, increasing

unrest in some regions and the high cost of energy, and

we seem set to endure the mounting consequences of

Mother Earth’s response to decades of global warming.

Countries like Dominica, located in the

Caribbean Sea, are again in hurricane season, a period

11-51687 4

of high vulnerability that we in the Caribbean

experience for a period of four to six months each year.

Fresh in our minds are the recent unfortunate events

that took place in the eastern United States. For the

first time in its recorded history, the city in which we

are convened came to a complete standstill because of

Hurricane Irene in late August.

We in the Caribbean understand clearly the

challenges faced in the aftermath of hurricanes, as

these are the kinds of disasters that small island States

such as Dominica are forced to routinely schedule on

our calendar of events and brace for every six months.

For us, each year’s recovery efforts could become next

year’s destruction point. On behalf of my delegation, I

extend my condolences to and empathize with all those

who were affected by Hurricane Irene.

For reasons such as these, each year we come

before this Assembly to report on the deterioration not

only of the environment, but also of climate change

negotiations. With full knowledge that these impacts

are projected to increase over time, we believe that we

can build on a number of outcomes agreed to in

Cancún. We also believe that although some responses

might not meet every Member State’s expectation, they

could act as catalysts and springboards for new

approaches and new solutions in Durban.

As witnesses to environmental degradation at a

time when reliance on the ecosystem to provide energy

for basic needs continues to intensify, we as a people

cannot continue to ignore the subject of climate

change. We believe that climate change is an energy-

related issue and that the provision of reliable,

accessible and affordable energy and its by-products

are critical to sustainable development and the

achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.

Despite unfulfilled promises and a slow start to

fast-start funding, we must report on actions advanced

since Cancún that have helped position the small island

developing States (SIDS) to transform their energy

sectors. Specifically, I refer to the SIDS Sustainable

Energy Initiative, also known as SIDS DOCK.

Almost 30 SIDS have signed an agreement to

establish this initiative, created by the Alliance of

Small Island States (AOSIS) under the chairmanship of

Grenada and in partnership with the Government of

Denmark, the United Nations Development Programme

and the World Bank. We wish to thank the Government

of Denmark for its significant financial contribution to

operationalizing this facility and for the leadership that

it has given and continues to give to the process. My

delegation expresses its gratitude to the other members

of AOSIS for staying the course and reaffirms

Dominica’s commitment to the initiative.

SIDS DOCK was the outstanding outcome for

SIDS at Cancún, and, as we set our sights on Durban,

the expectation is that other partners will support the

initiative, which is set to transform the energy sector in

SIDS. It is our hope that sufficient progress will be

made in negotiating appropriate measures that might be

implemented to address the losses and damage

associated with the adverse effects of climate change,

including impacts related to extreme weather as well as

slow-onset events.

These two initiatives are within the framework of

the Bali Road Map and Action Plan and reflect actions

that are geared towards the fulfilment of commitments

and giving effect to the Cancún decisions.

It is no secret that the Kyoto Protocol is in

serious trouble. While it represents less than 30 per

cent of greenhouse-gas emissions, it remains the only

legally binding global agreement in our quest to

address the growing threat of climate change. In order

to build on the gains made under the first commitment

period, we must ensure that the broad principles

secured in the Kyoto Protocol are maintained in any

legally binding global agreement at Durban.

A sustainable energy sector is the foundation for

sustainable development in small island States such as

Dominica. For the past decade, Dominica has been

working towards the development of our geothermal

potential, with the assistance of international agencies

and development partners.

With the support and contribution of the

European Union, the Government of France and the

Regional Councils of Guadeloupe and Martinique, we

are now closer to the realization of our goal.

Preparation for drilling has begun, and the three test

wells will be complete by the end of 2011.

The development of our geothermal potential will

provide us with the capacity to meet our domestic

needs and supply electricity to our neighbouring

islands, especially the French territories of Guadeloupe

and Martinique, through our connection via submarine

cables. With this displacement of hundreds of

megawatts of fossil-generated power, coupled with our

5 11-51687

sustainable development practices, Dominica’s target is

to be not only carbon-neutral but also carbon-negative

by the year 2020.

Like Dominica, many SIDS are pursuing their

own renewable-energy initiatives. However,

unsustainable debt burdens and lack of technology

have made such initiatives almost impossible for some

SIDS. We invite other developed countries and

international institutions to join the Government of

Denmark in SIDS DOCK and the Government of

Norway in its “Energy for all” initiative, by providing

the critical support that SIDS so desperately need.

We in the SIDS are committed to playing our

part; suffice it to say, however, that there are still some

major obstacles impeding the pace of progress,

particularly financing for SIDS-appropriate technology

and transfer. As part of the United Nations Conference

on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) process,

Dominica calls on the Secretary-General to establish a

special SIDS-appropriate technology fund to address

the issue of innovative financing for sustainable energy

technology transfer and development for small island

States. In that regard, we also ask that the Secretary-

General consider appointing a goodwill ambassador

tasked with advocating on behalf of SIDS and helping

the Secretary-General in supporting the Fund. The

effective transfer and development of SIDS-appropriate

technology is essential for SIDS to build resilience to

the present and future impacts of climate change.

In addition to looking forward to securing a

renewed political commitment for sustainable

development at Rio+20, the SIDS expect that the

international community will reaffirm their support

with the new and additional resources required to

implement the programmes and activities agreed to,

from Agenda 21 to the Barbados Programme of Action

and the Mauritius Strategy for the further

implementation of the Barbados Programme of Action.

Any renewed commitments and agreements

reached at Rio+20 must address the major impediments

to implementing these summit outcomes, including the

limited technical, financial and human resources, as

well as the impact of exogenous factors, particularly

the global financial crisis.

There is no denying the importance of national

security to a society; thus the unregulated,

non-standardized and highly dangerous trade in arms

and ammunition poses great threats to law and order in

our societies. The Caribbean region is not a

manufacturer of arms or ammunition, yet large

quantities of illegal firearms and ammunition often

associated with the illegal drug trade are transferred

across our borders, infiltrating our society and causing

mayhem and death, overburdening our health-care

system and contributing to the destabilization of

economic progress and well-being. The region has lost

some of its most productive members to this

unregulated transfer of arms. This is an unsustainable

situation for any country, but even more so for small

island States.

Negotiations on an arms trade treaty are

welcome, and, as stated in the Caribbean Community

Declaration on Small Arms and Light Weapons,

Dominica is committed to full and active participation

in all efforts related to the issue of small arms. Of

particular importance is the 2012 review of the 2001

Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and

Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light

Weapons in All Its Aspects, as well as the 2012 United

Nations Conference on the Arms Trade Treaty.

In the absence of these and other initiatives to

help combat global insecurity, threats to global peace

and security will continue to multiply in both intensity

and form. Multilateralism must take centre stage in the

struggle to deal with these challenges. The work of the

United Nations is therefore paramount in maintaining

world peace and security. In its maintenance of this

role, the United Nations must be able to clearly

demonstrate legitimacy and fairness in its actions,

cognizant always of the need to protect the most

vulnerable.

The ability of the Security Council to adequately

respond to new and changing world dynamics rests

with its acceptance of the need for continuous reform

to adapt to the times, including a recognition of the

increase in size of the United Nations membership and

global economic power shifts. Reform reflects more

than representation and, in this situation, should

promote adaptation to the needs of Members and the

drafting of strategies that would contribute to ending

wars and halting disputes.

In that regard, we welcome Mr. Al-Nasser’s

proposal of “The role of mediation in the settlement of

disputes by peaceful means” as the theme for the high-

level debate at the opening of this session of the

General Assembly.

11-51687 6

Earlier I spoke of the threats which plague

mankind in this era of globalization. I also highlighted

the need for multilateralism and for cooperation

between and among States. These challenges can be

overcome only in a global environment where there

exists respect for one another’s territorial integrity,

non-interference in one another’s domestic affairs,

respect for sovereignty and the right of self-

determination. It is in this context that we again call on

the United States of America to discontinue its

economic blockade against the people of the Republic

of Cuba.

I also welcome the support of the President of the

Assembly in keeping our sister island of Haiti on the

global stage. There are few words left to describe the

dire misery in which our brothers and sisters in Haiti

are living. The paralysis of reconstruction and

development activities has been the hallmark of the

aftermath of the earthquake that devastated that

country in January 2010.

We recognize the tremendous challenges to the

reconstruction efforts and wish to thank those

countries, institutions and individuals who have

contributed and continue to contribute towards this

process. We again call on those who have made

pledges to make good on their commitments in order to

accelerate the reconstruction efforts.

The presence of the United Nations Stabilization

Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) remains critical to the

reconstruction efforts by providing security and

support to the people of Haiti. We therefore urge the

Security Council to extend the tenure of MINUSTAH

to facilitate the efforts of the new Administration of

His Excellency President Michel Martelly.

We all accept that it is critical to collectively

address the impact of climate change, to resolve

conflicts throughout the world and to enhance peace

and security for humanity. All these efforts, however,

will be of little value to our peoples if we are not able

to ensure that they are healthy. The United Nations has

shown exemplary leadership in dealing with the fight

against HIV/AIDS, together with its partners. This

same leadership must now be given to the fight against

non-communicable diseases.

The frightening statistics of 2008 issued by the

World Health Organization, which estimated that

36 million deaths worldwide were due to

non-communicable diseases (NCDs), suggests that this

phenomenon is not unique to any one region and

therefore cannot be downplayed. NCDs pose one of the

greatest challenges to the health and development of

Dominica, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and

the rest of the world. The severe impacts of

non-communicable diseases continue to place

tremendous pressures on our health-care systems,

productivity and already overburdened and struggling

economies.

It was for these reasons that the CARICOM

Heads of Government issued the Port of Spain

Declaration in 2007 to promote healthy lifestyles and

to combat NCDs in our region. Prior to and since the

declaration, the Dominican Government has adopted a

national policy on NCDs. We have further

implemented a number of measures as part of our

multisectoral efforts to include education; the

strengthening of our primary health-care system with

the contribution of our partners, the Bolivarian

Republic of Venezuela and the Republic of Cuba; the

promotion of healthy lifestyles; greater access to

treatment and free health care; and appropriate

legislative and policy changes. The Government of

Dominica endorses the leadership taken by the

Caribbean Community in this regard. We remain

committed to the well-being of every citizen.

We join our CARICOM colleagues in thanking

the United Nations Member States and Secretariat for

convening the successful High-level Meeting on

NCDs. We look forward to the implementation of the

Political Declaration (resolution 66/2) and call on the

developed countries to partner with us in our various

efforts to combat NCDs.

Finally, Dominica wishes to reaffirm its

confidence in the United Nations system as the

ultimate negotiating and deliberating body for

addressing major challenges confronting the world.

The Assembly can count on Dominica’s commitment to

working in close collaboration with the United Nations

agencies and respective Member States to strengthen

the mission of this body. We cannot overemphasize the

fact that, notwithstanding its many limitations and

imperfections, the United Nations system is critical to

maintaining world peace and security and an

international humanitarian system. The world today is

a much better place because of the United Nations.