Basseterre, St. Kitts (SKNIS) — The Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis continues to benefit from strategic partnerships as outlined by its Prime Minister Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris. The statement was made during the Prime Ministers’ address to the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Friday, October 2nd.
“Mr. President, my Government is pleased to draw the attention of the international community to the invaluable contribution made by the Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) in the areas of international cooperation, health, technology and peace and security, said Dr. Harris, adding that we live in an age where global partnership is a prerequisite for solving complex problems at the global level.
He said that his government is proud to announce that the relationship established over three decades ago with Taiwan has yielded benefits in all areas of sustainable development. He noted that this level of engagement between developing country and partner in development is indeed a model fit for consideration by small states like St. Kitts and Nevis in its quest for achieving sustainable development.
Prime Minister Harris shared similar sentiments to that of the relationship between the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis.
“As we look to models and arrangements for advancing our global agenda, we found pragmatic beneficial value in our PetroCaribe agreement with Venezuela in support of poverty alleviation and social cohesion,” said Prime Minister Harris. “Venezuela under President Chavez, and now President Maduro must be commended for showing the world that there can be a better way and a more helpful way of driving the developmental agenda.”
St. Kitts and Nevis, he said, is cognizant of the territorial issues which exist between Venezuela and our CARICOM member state Guyana. “We expect that the leaders of Venezuela and Guyana will resolve these issues peacefully and in accordance with international law. My Government stands willing to assist along with CARICOM in the resolution of these challenging issues,” he stated.
Addressing the relationship between Cuba and the United States, Dr. Harris noted that the twin island federation is indeed pleased by the recent decision by the Governments of Cuba and the United States to re-establish diplomatic relations and said that this resolution has long been advocated by CARICOM.
He said this is the opportune time to usher in a new era of regional partnership and cooperation, as the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis has benefitted substantially from capacity building in the areas of education and health due to the partnership with Cuba.
“We applaud several prescriptions outlined in President Raul Castro’s address to this Assembly, calling for better arrangements for Caribbean countries and for special and differential treatment,” he said. “We concur that the issue of reparation must be seen in the broader context of the evil of slavery and its lingering negative impact on the development of the Caribbean.”
Dr. Harris said reparations have to be considered as a pathway to addressing the perennial disadvantages that slavery has caused to regional economies and societies.