NEW YORK: Prime Minister The Hon. Dr. Terrance Drew, on Tuesday, engaged in a significant bilateral meeting with Her Excellency Louise Mushikiwabo, Secretary-General of the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), on the sidelines of the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
The discussions centered on forging stronger partnerships between St. Kitts and Nevis and the OIF, with Prime Minister Drew reaffirming the Federation’s keen interest in becoming a member of the global Francophonie community. He noted that St. Kitts and Nevis’ rich francophone history, as the first French colony in the Caribbean, provides a unique cultural and linguistic foundation that aligns naturally with the values and mission of La Francophonie.
The Prime Minister also shared a private lunch with Mr. Kamal Amakrane, Climate Envoy of the President of the UN General Assembly, to discuss cooperation on climate resilience.
Prime Minister Drew is attending the UNGA80 High-Level Week, a critical annual gathering of world leaders that addresses pressing global issues and advances multilateral cooperation. This year’s session is expected to focus heavily on climate action, financing for development, global peace and security, and the ongoing work toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.
Joining the Prime Minister as part of the official delegation are the Right Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Economic Development, International Trade, Investment, Industry and Commerce; and the Hon. Dr. Joyelle Clarke, Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment, Climate Action, and Constituency Empowerment, among others.
During his time at the United Nations, Prime Minister Drew is scheduled to attend several high-level dialogues and bilateral meetings with heads of state, development partners, and leaders of multilateral institutions. He is also expected to deliver Saint Kitts and Nevis’ national address before the General Assembly, in which he will outline the Federation’s key positions on global affairs and provide updates on the nation’s progress under the Sustainable Island State Agenda (SISA).
This year’s participation underscores the Government’s ongoing commitment to multilateralism, sustainable development, climate resilience, and global cooperation.