Dr Douglas diagnoses diseases eating away at SDG fulfilment
STRENGTHENING DEMOCRACY, beefing up the rule of law and fortifying cooperation especially among Latin American (LATAM) and Caribbean countries in the Global South are prerequisites for achieving the 17 UN Sustainable Goals (SDGs) by 2030 according to St Kitts and Nevis Foreign Affairs Minister, Dr Denzil Douglas.
Dr Douglas gave his prescription for SDG fulfilment during the plenary session of the VII Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
While there, Douglas reaffirmed the commitment of the Basseterre government to the CELAC ideals.
He delighted in welcoming back recently re-elected Brazilian President, Lula da Silva to the CELAC Council, after year as an opposition politician. President Lula was one of the Founding Fathers of CELAC, and has unique perspectives on its role in deepening cooperation and integration among LATAM and Caribbean States.
Leaders at the Summit also discussed trade-related issues, investment, transportation, human resource development, climate change adaptation and mitigation, and building public health infrastructure in the post-pandemic era.
The Mexican Government outlined a proposal for deepening cooperation in healthcare with CARICOM member states. Coordination will be undertaken by the Trinidad-based Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA.
Dr Ralph Gonsalves, Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, assumed the presidency of CELAC for this year. Dr Gonsalves pledged building on his predecessors’ work from Argentina and Mexico.
Basseterre used the high-level forum to call for ending the economic embargo and other restrictions imposed on Cuba and Venezuela.
These devastating economic measures, Dr Douglas observed, have strangled and badly hurt the ordinary citizens Havana and Caracas.
Douglas said the years of economic blockade have also slowed up the economic growth and development of the two Spanish-speaking countries.
The just-concluded CELAC Summit will bear fruit for Basseterre in keeping with his government’s agenda for improving the lives of the people of St. Kitts and Nevis.
