STATEMENT

BY

HON. ELVIN NIMROD, MP

MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, LEGAL AFFAIRS

& CARRIACOU AND PETITE MARTINIQUE AFFAIRS

OF GRENADA

FIFTY-FIFTH SESSION OF TIE

UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Mr. President, Mr. Secretary-General, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen:

My delegation greets and congratulates you, Mr. President, for presiding over the deliberations of the 55th Session of the United Nations - the Millennium Assembly.

We pay tribute to your predecessor, Dr. Theo Ben Gurirab, the Foreign Minister of Namibia, for his effective and dynamic conduct of the 54th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, including the preparation for the Millennium Summit and the President's Report.

Congratulations are also extended to our distinguished Secretary-General who, with great vision, conceptualized the Millennium Summit, the execution of which is a great triumph to the United Nations.

A hearty welcome is extended to the small sovereign State of Tuvalu, as it joins the family of nations.

Mr. President,

The Millennium Summit and this 55th Session of the United Nations General Assembly are historic events that provide a unique opportunity to view humanity's progress and face the challenges before us.

Indeed, the Millennium Declaration is a visionary Action Plan embracing values, principles and objectives for the international agenda in the 21st century.

Mr. President,

The Summit Declaration sets out a global vision for the 21st Century. My delegation welcomes the inclusion of commitments to fight poverty, disease, ignorance, injustice, violence and degradation of the environment, among others.

Mr. President,

In the matter of poverty and disease, the United Nations must address the inequalities that still exist around the world. In this 21St century, more than 1.2 billion people live on less than one dollar a day. Millions of children and the elderly go to bed hungry. Disease and sickness wreak havoc on the lives of children, men and women. Today the HIV/AIDS pandemic cuts short the lives of millions of people who could be making useful and productive contributions to our world.

Mr. President,

Trade is vital to the livelihood of Grenadians. In the banana exporting countries of the Caribbean subregion, which includes Grenada, the export of bananas accounts for a significant percentage of foreign exchange. However, our economies are threatened by the callous ruling of the WTO against the EU banana regime of assistance to our small growers.

Our struggling farmers, with limited acreages, find it difficult, if not impossible, to compete with a transnational corporation. Our farmers need an adjustment period in order to effect the requisite changes needed by the new trade regime.

We look to the United Nations to call upon the WTO to take into consideration the special structural problems faced by the small banana producers of the Caribbean.

Mr. President, we call for corporate responsibility. We appeal for measures to encourage the sustainability of small economies and economies in transition. We urge a more equitable global partnership.

Mr. President,

You may recall that the Heads of State and Government, including that of the Prime Minister of Grenada,recently in this very hall, stressed the urgency of releasing poor developing countries from their debt burden. The Heads expressed an interest in finding new approaches and new thinking with respect to this problem. A solution should be vigourously pursued with deliberate speed.

Debt forgiveness is not a financial loss to the global economy. Rather, it provides an opportunity for stimulation in the depressed and stagnant parts of the world's economy. Investing the dividends realised by debt forgiveness in the economy of the debtor developing countries - especially the least developed, and those with economies in transition - would be a major investment in global development.

Mr. President,

Another area that needs urgent and immediate assistance from the international community is that of natural disasters.

The costly restoration of infrastructure and rehabilitation of the productive sectors, especially agriculture and tourism, and the high cost of recovering and rebuilding make the attainment of sustainable development a monumental task.

Mr. President,

My delegation calls upon the United Nations and its agencies, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and other international agencies. We also call upon the private and public sectors in global partnership, including the Global Compact, to contribute to a well-structured Disaster Relief Fund. A Relief Fund that can respond quickly and effectively.

Mr. President,

A large percentage of the needs of the developing countries in the Caribbean sub-region and elsewhere can be met. We look forward to positive developments envisaged from globalisation, trade liberalisation, information technology and sustainable development. These and other well-conceived programmes must be seriously pursued. Lip service is not enough.

Mr. President,

As the Secretary General noted in his report to the 55'" UNGA on the work of the organization, and I quote: "to some, globalisation is imbued with great promise, to others, it appears deeply threatening."

The international community must help to ensure the have-nots are on board this fast-moving train of globalisation. All member states need to share in the opportunities provided by globalisation. This would act as vehicle for international peace and economic security.

Removing some of the barriers to trade and capital flow are prerequisites to successful reduction of poverty and disease in the developing countries. This can be mutually beneficial to developed and developing countries.

Mr. President,

Trade has been the engine of economic growth and development from the days of bartering to the present day of e-commerce and globalisation. We therefore regard the unilateral interference in our offshore services sector as an attempt to hinder our trade in services and our role in the global economy.

In this connection, Mr. President, my delegation recalls the worlds of my Prime Minister about the unfair charges leveled against our offshore financial services sector.

"A cartel of high-tax nations, comprising the richest and most powerful countries, has launched a destructive and high-powered attack on our Country, accusing us of anti-competitive tax practices. Threats, imperialistic pressures and abuse of power in multi-lateral organisations are being used to force many small states, including Grenada, to give up our fiscal sovereignty. They have used adverse publicity techniques deliberately to condemn and harm our economies. They have threatened various sanctions, sought to block access to capital funds in multinational organisations and to impose financial protectionism and total ostracism."

This is fiscal imperialism. It tramples on the principle of sovereign equality. It is contrary to international law; it undermines freedom of competition, global investment and trade liberalisation.

The role of education in poverty alleviation, in the application of science and technology and in the vast area of information sharing and communications is vital.

The Government of Grenada, recognising the social, cultural and economic potential of education, is investing an increasing proportion of its limited resources to prepare its people to participate in, and benefit from, the information and technology revolution.

Towards this end, the Government of Grenada is seeking the assistance of the UNDP, the World Bank and agencies and donors of goodwill to established a new programme of "distance learning" by means of global computer interconnectivity.

Grenada attaches great importance to the convening in 2001 of the UN Conference on Financing for Development.

My delegation welcomes the attempt to address, in a holistic manner, monetary, trade and financial issues in the context of globalisation and sustainable development. The International Community should not miss this opportunity to focus attention and resources in pursuit of development, peace and stability.

And here, Mr. President, my delegation reaffirms that the root cause of conflict within nations and among nations can be found in some of the injustice done to the weaker members of the international community by the stronger ones.

Unless the basics of life-food, clothing, shelter, health, and employment-are attained, Human Rights and the Universal Declaration are meaningless to those who suffer such extreme deprivations. This is especially so in the context of economic, social and cultural rights, which are downplayed in favour of civil and political rights. Since all Human Rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated, attention to the full range will contribute better to the observance and enjoyment of this noble goal.

I join my Prime Minister in paying tribute to, and publicly thanking, the Government and people of the Republic of China on Taiwan for the assistance given to Grenada with respect to agriculture, marine resources, education, health, culture and infrastructure.

The friendship and sincerity of the Republic of China on Taiwan have been a source of strength and endurance for our two countries. It is in this spirit Grenada calls once more for the return of the Republic of China to full membership in the United Nations.

A people who diligently work to achieve such high levels of human and technological development and a people who make such positive contributions to the global economy must become a full member of the United Nations.

Finally Mr. President, we must seek to ensure that this august y is responsive to the everchanging global environment. Let us ensure that we address the needs of our people. And let us move forward with a United Nations that is prepared to fuel tree engine that would bring about more equitable participation in this global community.

Let us always put people first and be guided by God. Thank you.