Grenada, 2004

My delegation joins in

the many laudatory and congratulatory expressions

addressed to you, Mr. Ping, as you assume the

presidency of the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth

session. Additionally, we pay tribute to your

predecessor, Mr. Julian Hunte, whose presidency of the

General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session was virile,

dynamic and constructive, imbued, as he was, with the

wisdom of Solomon, the patience of Job and the vision

of Daniel.

Grenada’s statement is made from the profound

depths of the human heart. The Prime Minister of

Grenada, The Right Honourable Keith Mitchell, and

the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade,

The Honourable Elvin Nimrod, whose unavoidable

absence can be understood, have asked me to speak on

their behalf.

The Assembly will, I hope, understand why

Grenada’s statement in this general debate will focus in

large measure on the natural disaster that has befallen

the State of Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique.

First, Grenada expresses grateful appreciation for the

outpouring of sympathy and assistance from the many

countries that have already taken the rostrum —

especially from the Caribbean leaders who have seen

and described to the Assembly, in chilling and heart-

rending detail, the devastation of the tri-island State of

Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique caused by

jurricane Ivan “the Terrible”.

Therefore, there is no need for me to multiply my

words except to say that the fickle finger of fate

seemed to have conspired with nature — exceedingly

benevolent at times, but sometimes equally destructive.

This time, it released its full fury on a vulnerable small

island developing State, reducing it to rubble. After

hurricane Ivan’s rage had subsided, there was complete

destruction of the infrastructure, and it seemed as if a

Stygian darkness had descended on the land. However,

the resilience of our people and the emerging solidarity

give us hope that, with the assistance of the

international community, Grenada — like the

mythological phoenix — will rise from the ashes

brought about by the hurricane.

Who can help us pick up the pieces of a shattered

country with a dislocated economy, whose precipitous

decline has brought it to rock bottom? An assessment

of the destruction reveals that it would take $2 billion

to rebuild the State of Grenada, Carriacou and Petite

Martinique. That is a Herculean task far beyond our

means. The call, therefore, is made to the international

community: “Come down to Macedonia and help us”.

We plead with the United Nations, its agencies the

United Nations Development Programme, UNICEF,

UNESCO, the World Bank, the International Monetary

Fund, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the

United Nations, the World Health Organization,

individual countries, individual permanent

representatives, non-governmental organizations and

friends to help Grenada help itself.

In that connection, my delegation recalls the

words of the seventeenth-century English clergyman

and poet John Donne: “No man is an island, entire of

itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of

the main.” Thus, what happens to each of us affects all

of us. Today, that is eminently borne out by the

interconnectivity and interdependence of societies,

aided by the information and communication

technology revolution. Consequently, we speak today

about a world shared by all instead of a world divided.

Giving, caring and sharing should therefore be a

reality, not just a concept.

Forgiving Grenada’s debt and cancelling its

obligations to international organizations and

institutions will give Grenada a breathing spell. Help in

17

that regard will be formally requested through official

channels and will free Grenada of its many obligations.

The dire problems of my country

notwithstanding, we cannot fail to touch upon the

world situation, in which the geopolitical centre of

gravity continues to swing from the Israeli-Palestinian

struggle to Iraq and Afghanistan. The situation in those

centres of conflict is fanned further by the heinous and

atrocious crime of terrorism, which is fast becoming a

way of life. In that regard, my delegation recalls an

ancient law: hatreds never cease by hatreds; it is by

love alone that they cease.

It will be recalled that, from this rostrum, I told

my colleagues that I would demit office at the end of

this month, having attained the ripe old age of 84 years

and having served my country in this honourable body

for almost 13 years. Today, I want to recant with regard

to that diplomatic note on my premature departure and

to tell the Assembly that my Government has asked me

to continue. Therefore, refreshed in body and mind,

confident in faith and joyful in hope, I will continue to

expect the generous assistance of my colleagues.

With respect to my age, I should like to quote Sir

Francis Bacon, who wrote several centuries ago that

age appears to be best in four things: old wood best to

burn, old wine to drink, old friends to trust and old

authors to read. Colleagues, I treasure your friendship

and ask for your support on behalf of my country.

Let me conclude with this patriotic verse:

To all the world I give my hand,

My heart I give my native land;

I seek her good, her glory.

I honour every nation’s name,

Respect their fortune and their fame;

But I love the land that bore me!

Love the land that bore me!

Please allow me an addendum to my statement. I

wish to announce that tomorrow, Friday, at 10.30 a.m.

in the Economic and Social Council Chamber, the

Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

and the United Nations Development Programme will

make a flash appeal for assistance to Grenada and

Haiti.