Trinidad and Tobago, 1994

I should like to

offer congratulations and special greetings to Ambassador

Essy on his unanimous election to the presidency of the

General Assembly. I am confident that under his able

leadership this session of the General Assembly is well

placed to address successfully the important issues on its

agenda.

Allow me to express appreciation to His Excellency

Mr. Samuel Insanally for his wise and effective guidance

during the session just concluded. He has indeed made an

outstanding contribution, of which our region is very proud.

We express our thanks to the Secretary-General for his

stewardship of the Organization during these trying times,

and we renew our pledge to give him our fullest support.

Trinidad and Tobago, like the rest of the world, is in

the process of making fundamental changes in the way we

manage our affairs. We have already advanced

significantly along the path of deregulation and

liberalization brought upon us by the inexorable move

towards globalization and borderlessness, and most

importantly by the absolute necessity to achieve greater

efficiency and higher sustainable levels of productivity.

Greater emphasis is being placed on the market paradigm

as the means to unleash the inner energies of our society

and to create the wealth needed for the improvement of the

lives of all our citizens.

But let me hasten to add that we are acutely aware of

the imbalances that could arise as a result of the purest play

of market forces, and we as a society consider it our

responsibility to ensure that distributive justice exists in our

system, sufficiently to guarantee the well-being of all of our

citizens, including those who are unable to compete and

who for one reason or another may have been pushed out

of the mainstream of national activity. In other words,

whilst many things may be changing, there is one constant

in Trinidad and Tobago, and that is our preservation of a

humane and just society where all have the opportunity for

fulfilment.

Side by side with the globalization process, or maybe

as a byproduct of it, is a resurgence of regionalism

throughout the world. In our own hemisphere this is very

pronounced, and the dream of a free trade area from Alaska

to Tierra del Fuego seems more realizable than ever before.

We are pleased to see various subregional groupings

emerge and then develop relationships with one another.

Never before in the history of our hemisphere has the

integration process been so advanced. We have the North

American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the Southern

Cone Common Market (MERCOSUR), the Andean Pact,

the Central American Integration Movement, the Latin

American Economic System (SELA), the Caribbean

Community (CARICOM) and the Rio Group, in addition

of course to the Organization of American States. It is

significant that the cooperation which is flowering is not

only economic but also political; this augurs very well for

the development as well as for the security of the

hemisphere.

In addition to this multilateral coalescence, there is

a general strengthening of bilateral relationships. We in

CARICOM have been making strides towards overcoming

historical barriers and have been deepening our ties with

Latin America. My own country, having this year

established diplomatic relations with six countries of Latin

America, now has diplomatic relations with all the

countries of the western hemisphere. Also, we joined 38

others, including both independent countries and

non-independent Territories, in establishing the

Association of Caribbean States, comprising countries of

the Caribbean littoral and bringing into being a market of

over 200 million people with a combined gross domestic

product of $500 billion.

We do all this for the benefit of our people, realizing

that when we join forces we are stronger, we lay the

bedrock for a stable environment within the hemisphere,

and we create, among other things, megamarkets for our

products and generate the wealth through which we

improve the standard of living in our countries.

I have spoken about the possibilities for political

co-operation as a result of the integration processes taking

place in our region. May I mention an outstanding

current example. I refer of course to Haiti. At present in

Haiti, sanctioned by Security Council resolution 940

(1994), is a multinational force comprised mainly of

troops from the region, with military contributions from

elsewhere. My Government welcomes the cooperation

extended by countries outside the region whose

farsightedness persuaded them to contribute to the

restoration process now taking place in Haiti.

In the changed circumstances of today’s world, there

is more than ever a need to cooperate for security

purposes and for the preservation of democracy, and this

19

of course requires the political will which has been

demonstrated by our region in the Haitian situation.

Soldiers from Trinidad and Tobago are part of the

multinational force at present in Haiti. We are pleased to

participate in the collective efforts to ensure stability and

the return of democracy and the democratically elected

President to that country. We believe that the Caribbean

has a special responsibility in relation to Haiti. We have

therefore been in the forefront of attempts to solve the

crisis, and we vow to remain with the problem until it is no

more with us.

Trinidad and Tobago joins the jubilation of the

millions of proud Haitians at home and in the diaspora at

the welcome news of the resignation of General Raoul

Cedras and his Chief of Staff. Like others, we hope this

sends an unequivocal message to those elements in Haiti

that seek to continue to wage war and terror against a

people still yearning for a society of freedom, democracy

and justice - a society in which the collective talents and

resourcefulness of Haitians can be appropriately channelled

towards rebuilding their nation and fighting the enemies of

poverty and degradation.

Another area of Caribbean concern has to do with

Cuba. We welcome the commencement of dialogue

between Cuba and the United States of America on specific

issues. These talks should assist in laying a foundation for

the resolution of remaining difficulties and in achieving the

long-term objective of fully reintegrating Cuba into the

Western Hemisphere. We in the Caribbean are doing our

part towards the goal of Cuba’s reintegration. We have

established the Cuba-Caribbean Community (CARICOM)

Mixed Commission, and recently Cuba joined us as a

founding member of the Association of Caribbean States.

Trinidad and Tobago also welcomes the consolidation

of democracy in the Latin American and Caribbean region.

Peaceful elections continue to be conducted in these

countries, deepening the democratic process in the region.

We are pleased with the many positive developments

in our part of the world. There have also been positive

developments in former areas of conflict which seized the

attention of this body for many years, further illustrating

what can be achieved through partnership and political will.

The peaceful transition to democracy in South Africa a few

months ago stands out as a beacon of hope and signals that

no problem is insurmountable if there is concerted national

and international action. Trinidad and Tobago joins with

the international community in assuring South Africa of its

continued support in this crucial post-apartheid period. The

Government of South Africa has announced its decision

to include among its priorities the continuation of

traditional friendships and the promotion of new

partnerships. We look forward to the development of

strong bilateral relations between South Africa and

ourselves, a process that is already under way.

Trinidad and Tobago is also heartened by the

progress achieved so far in the Middle East peace

process. We welcome the initiation of self-governing

arrangements in the Gaza Strip and Jericho - important

developments in this transition period - and look forward

to the extension of Palestinian self-governing

arrangements to encompass other occupied territories in

the implementation of the Declaration of Principles. The

international community’s support for development efforts

in the economic and social fields and the rebuilding of

infrastructure destroyed during the long years of

occupation is critical to the Palestinian people at this time.

We are encouraged by the Washington Declaration

of 25 July 1994, issued by the Governments of Jordan

and Israel, which ended the state of war and paves the

way for normalization of relations and a formal peace

treaty. We also appreciate the efforts made by the Syrian

and Lebanese Governments in their commitment to

advancing the peace process in the Middle East.

Whilst there is cause for satisfaction globally, we

continue to be traumatized by other events which have

already shattered the lives of millions of people, evoking

images more horrendous than those we have witnessed

before. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, a genocidal war

rages on, having already brought the evil of “ethnic

cleansing” into our modern vocabulary and consciousness.

We were first appalled and are now numbed by the horror

in Rwanda, where hundreds of thousands of lives have

been lost, creating hellish human suffering in that country.

Destruction, oppression and suffering continue in various

parts of the world, affecting hundreds of thousands of

lives in Somalia and elsewhere.

Nuclear proliferation makes us all very uneasy,

creating pictures of an abyss of unspeakable chaos into

which we can very easily slip. The ideological divide

may be behind us, but the threat of Armageddon still

hangs over humanity.

It has become a cliché of international helplessness

to say that the world community must act decisively and

expeditiously to do this or that to deal with many of the

problems that I have mentioned. The fact is that there is

20

a very long road ahead. To effect lasting solutions to the

crises that are upon us we must go back always to the

fundamentals and remember, for example, that development

and peace are inextricably linked. If we are to get

anywhere near to solving some of our problems we must

deal with key issues such as good governance, the

promotion of peace, the promotion of justice as a pillar of

society, sustainable environmental management and social

development.

There is no doubt in my mind that the world

community is already beginning to grapple with

fundamentals. We are in the process of elaborating the

Agenda for Development as a necessary complement to the

“Agenda for Peace”. International conferences of world

leaders, some held and others to come, all point the way to

a new partnership for development based on global

consensus and action.

In this regard, the World Summit for Social

Development will be convened in March 1995 in Denmark

to address some of the serious ills afflicting many societies

by focusing on the key problems of poverty, unemployment

and social marginalization. The programme of action to be

adopted at the social Summit must therefore include

specific provisions, including adequate financial resources

for implementation and follow-up by the international

community and, more specifically, by the United Nations

and its agencies and institutions.

There can be no doubt that the quality of life in many

countries today as it relates to the individual is undergoing

a grave transformation. The growing intolerance and

increasing senseless violence within the home and in

communities at large have led many to question the very

mores of the society in which we live. The situation is

further aggravated by the growth of organized transnational

crime, which in many countries exacerbates problems of

rampant vicious criminal activity, terrorism, drug abuse,

illegal drug trafficking and money laundering.

In this era of increasing globalization, no Government,

particularly Governments in the developing world, can

hope, on its own, to address effectively these varied

problems. We therefore welcome the approval by the

International Law Commission earlier this year of a draft

statute for an international criminal court and we support

the convening of a diplomatic conference to conclude a

convention on the establishment of a permanent court.

Another important area being tackled by the

international community is the full participation of women

in the process of development. The fact is, effective

international cooperation for development will remain

elusive, in the absence of specific measures for an

adequate means of empowering all members of society to

participate fully in the political, economic and social life

of their respective societies. It is widely acknowledged

that investment in women can have an enormous impact

on the advancement of society as a whole. However,

women from all parts of the globe continue to face

systematic discrimination in all fields of endeavour, while

also bearing a disproportionate burden of the

consequences of economic recession, poverty, structural

adjustment policies and political strife.

In acknowledging this, Trinidad and Tobago has put

in place constitutional guarantees to ensure equal

treatment for all under the law, irrespective of gender,

creed or race. My Government holds steadfastly to the

position that women must be allowed equal opportunity

to participate fully in all spheres of life and at all levels

of society, particularly in decision-making positions.

Trinidad and Tobago is encouraged by efforts made

during the ongoing preparatory process for the Fourth

World Conference on Women to address these and other

crucial issues. Much work remains to be done in the

ensuing months. My Government will continue to work

closely with others in an effort to elaborate concrete

recommendations, including specific attainable goals,

aimed at overcoming the numerous impediments to the

advancement of women.

The population question also continues to be on the

international agenda. It is recognized that population-

related goals and policies must be integral parts of

cultural, economic and social development aimed at

improving the quality of life. Consequently, the

International Conference on Population and Development,

which was convened in Cairo last September, quite

appropriately reviewed the impact of demographic factors

on development and emphasized the importance of the

entire spectrum of population policies to the development

process. We must now take concrete steps to uphold the

principles and implement the Programme of Action

adopted by the Conference.

The crucial area of the environment is also being

discussed. Member States have taken initial steps at the

national and international levels, towards the elaboration

of a new development paradigm based on the integration

of environmental concerns in development activities. The

continuation of this process would lead to the

21

implementation of the policies and decisions adopted at Rio

de Janeiro, thereby making possible the attainment of the

targets identified for our common good.

As a follow-up to the Rio de Janeiro Conference, the

Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of

Small Island Developing States, which was held in

Barbados earlier this year, allowed island States and the rest

of the international community to explore a comprehensive

approach to sustainable development within the framework

of Agenda 21. For many island developing States which

have remained on the periphery of international

programmes for development, the implementation of the

agreements adopted in Barbados will create the opportunity

to participate as contributors and beneficiaries in a truly

global effort. As Chairman of the Alliance of Small Island

States, Trinidad and Tobago reiterates its commitment to

playing a lead role in the active pursuit of the

implementation of the Barbados Programme of Action.

The preservation and sustainable management of the

resources in all global commons must be an important goal

of the Agenda for Development. But this goal must be

facilitated by the development of legal regimes to ensure

that we successfully carry out our duties as trustees of those

resources.

In this context, Trinidad and Tobago welcomes the

imminent entry into force of the 1982 United Nations

Convention on the Law of the Sea, having participated very

actively with other Member States in forging a new, more

universally accepted public order for the oceans. The spirit

of accommodation and consensus manifested in the work

achieved by the Preparatory Commission for the

International Seabed Authority and for the International

Tribunal for the Law of the Sea constitutes a solid and

valuable foundation for the launching of the International

Seabed Authority in Kingston, Jamaica, on

16 November 1994. Trinidad and Tobago will continue to

participate constructively and in close cooperation with

other Member States in the decision-making process of the

Authority as well as in other institutions related to the 1982

Convention.

The coming into force of the Convention on the Law

of the Sea should provide an impetus to the United Nations

Conference on Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory

Fish Stocks, which is developing principles for the effective

management of one of the most important renewable food

resources. This objective can be attained only if there is a

confluence of political will to act decisively.

Political will is also absolutely necessary if we are

to address adequately the various international economic

impediments to effective national efforts to promote social

progress and better standards of life. The major obstacles

include trade barriers, insufficient flows of international

financing, onerous external debt and the inadequate

transfer of technology to developing countries. They

serve to frustrate the ardent efforts made by Governments

to revitalize their economies.

Trinidad and Tobago welcomes the important step

taken earlier this year towards free and open trade, with

the successful conclusion of the Uruguay Round of trade

negotiations. We emphasize, however, that as we seek to

implement the trade liberalization measures under the

agreements arrived at, urgent attention must be given to

the persistent trend of economic growth accompanied by

increased poverty, unemployment and marginalization of

large sections of populations the world over.

It is clear from what I have said that it is only

through a multilateral approach that we will solve the

problems of the world. Clearly, the most appropriate

vehicle to accommodate this approach is the United

Nations. People are turning increasingly to the United

Nations not only for the realization of their aspirations for

peace and security, but also in their quest for

development with equity and social justice. Following the

dissipation of the distrust and hostility of the cold-war

era, the United Nations ought to be in a better position to

respond to these needs.

On becoming a Member of the United Nations 32

years ago, Trinidad and Tobago undertook along with

other Member States to maintain international peace and

security and to promote the economic and social

advancement of all peoples. To this end we intend to

participate actively in current efforts to restructure the

United Nations to enable it to become more responsive to

the needs of Member States in this dynamic international

environment.

As the United Nations is on the threshold of

celebrating its fiftieth anniversary, Trinidad and Tobago

is pleased to recommit itself to the purposes and

principles enshrined in the Charter. As Members, we

need to redouble our efforts towards forging universal

peace and a new era of development, in which both

nations and individuals find security and fulfilment. I am

confident that inherent in the human condition is the

desire and the will to achieve these goals.