THE RIGHT HON. SIR JAMES F. MITCHELL, KCMG

THE PRIME MINISTER OF ST. VINCENTAND

GRENADINES

TO THE

MILLENNIUM SUMMIT

OF THE

UNITED NATIONS

WE THE PEOPLE : THE role of the United Nations in the Twenty-First Century

The history of our civilization has been an The history of our civilization evolving relationship between the organic and the inorganic. It has evolved with all intimate relationships between all living creatures and the planet Earth, which we inherited.

The ultimate relationship among the living created the concepts and the values of family, home and nation. Over the thousands of years, boundaries became demarcated about nations, and rivalries about their boundaries and the exploitation of resources led to wars, and the search for peace, and to the United Nations coming into existence.

Our religious heritage has taught us how to reach across the boundaries of nations through the very inspirational guideline, "love your neighbour as yourself." Today we are sensitive to the imperatives of the global village, and our neighbors through the technological revolution, are everywhere. And yet, the competition amongst the peoples of the world has become fiercer, with the rich countries surging ahead and widening the gap with poor countries.

Having access to the markets in the developed countries is the key to long-term economic development for the poor countries.

Small island states such as our own, with an enviable record of good governance and human rights, have seen the mighty in the banana trade using the international rules, crafted by them, impede our economic growth. Similarly, the verdicts that have been imposed by the OECD countries on our financial services, without our rights to be heard, demonstrate total disrespect. Where is the fairness in free trade?

Offshore financial services is one of our chosen avenues of economic diversification. Since it appears as though there is no place or space for us in the production of goods, we thought that we should provide a financial service to those who do. Our decision to service the wealth generated elsewhere is our attempt at economic survival.

We recognize that our financial system must provide opportunities for the enjoyment of the fruits of one's labor. However, we want it to be understood that we are committed to being responsible members of the international community, including playing our part in the war against the drug trade and money laundering.

Each successive generation of youth must be provided with a ray of hope, and in the twenty-first century our world's leaders must provide meaningful change to enhance the quality of life for the world's people. Development, no matter what we build, is about people and the quality of their lives. Only when the fruits of this objective are being realized, would globalization be accepted as a practical policy of creating equity of opportunities for human development.

The challenges of the twenty-first century lie in the battles against poverty and the HIV virus. The development of human capital is the main priority for small nation-states such as St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

The United Nations has to find a way to focus continually on the equitable distribution of the world's wealth. The unilateral impositions by the strong and the wealthy, on the small, vulnerable and poor will not produce the stability, security and peace that are fundamental to attaining the quality of life to which we all aspire.

Ladies and Gentlemen, this should be the guiding spirit behind our reform. And with this spirit, we should preserve humanity well into the twenty-first century.

I thank you.