Hanley Touts St. Kitts Development Gains at UNGA81
United Nations, New York, (SKNIS): Acting Prime Minister the Honourable Dr. Geoffrey Hanley used Saint Kitts and Nevis’ national address at the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA81) on Friday to highlight tangible progress under the Federation’s Sustainable Island State Agenda (SISA), declaring that the country is moving decisively from ambition to implementation.
Addressing the General Debate at United Nations Headquarters in New York, Dr. Hanley pointed to major advances in water security, renewable energy, food security, healthcare and sustainable development as evidence that the Federation is building greater resilience while improving the lives of its citizens.
“A Sustainable Island State is not a distant ambition. We are building it today,” Dr. Hanley told the General Assembly.
Among the achievements highlighted was the commissioning in February of the Federation’s two-million-gallon-per-day solar-powered desalination plant, along with continued investments in water distribution and the identification of 17 potential new groundwater sources.
Dr. Hanley noted that approximately 75 percent of households now have access to 24-hour water, compared with about 25 percent in 2022.
The Acting Prime Minister also highlighted the 30-megawatt geothermal development being advanced on Nevis and plans for a 50-megawatt solar photovoltaic and battery storage project on Saint Kitts, which are expected to strengthen energy security and reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels.
The Federation is simultaneously advancing climate-smart agriculture and strengthening healthcare through its locally developed National Digital Health Information System at the Joseph N. France General Hospital.
“Small states are not powerless. With investment, partnership and political will, small nations can deliver big solutions. Saint Kitts and Nevis is not seeking pity; we are advancing partnership,” Dr. Hanley said.
The acting prime minister reaffirmed that the Sustainable Island State Agenda remains the Federation’s national blueprint for creating a more resilient, sustainable, inclusive and prosperous Saint Kitts and Nevis by 2040.
