Nationwide October 25, 2003
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
SaturdaySaint October 25th Lucia 2003 Saint Lucia NATIONWIDE 1 NATIONWIDE No.29. Saturday October 25th 2003 A publication of the Department of Information Services EDITORIAL STST.. LLUCIAUCIA’S’S CALLCALL ADIEU, GEORGE!ADIEU, BRIAN! With George Odlum’s recent passing, a colourful and eventful chapter in St Lucia’s modern history has ended. TO THE WORLD Ironically, the former Foreign Minister’s death occurred hours before that of his A coalition of the willing to friend, former Police Commissioner, Brian Bernard, who retired just months ago. Odlum had been terminally ill. end global poverty, illiteracy Bernard’s death, however, was a hunger and trade imbalance. surprise. The call was loud and clear. “If Dr. Anthony also warned that the UN’s 2000 Odlum’s passing is not just a loss for a coalition of the willing could be Millennium Declaration goal of halving St Lucia but the entire Caribbean. For assembled for war, then surely we can global poverty “is receding into Brother George, as he was also gather a coalition of the willing nothingness” and can only be rescued if affectionately known, was a true to address the problems of poverty developed countries make good on their Caribbean patriot. He reached out to St disease, illiteracy, hunger and trade pledges. Lucia’s neighbours and eloquently imbalance,” This was the charge the championed their cause in the struggle Prime Minister of St. Lucia Hon. Dr. “Moreover, we might challenge ourselves for development. Kenny D. Anthony gave to the members beyond merely halving global poverty, by of the United Nations General Assembly aspiring to its virtual elimination,” he added. As the Caribbean was emerging in the as he addressed the fifty-eighth session He stressed that national security and 70s from an exploitative colonial of the organisation on September 25th international stability can only be realized experience, he and other regional 2003. where there is justice. intellectuals – a few went on to become heads of government – joined forces to St Lucia believes it’s time for the United present a nationalist agenda offering the Prime Minister Anthony said there can be Nations Security Council to be made more region an alternative path to no sanitizing of one corner of the globe democratic and transparent in order to development. Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Kenny D. Anthony while despair, contagion and desperation reflect the realities of the 21st Century. addresing the UN General Assembly fester elsewhere. See page 2 for the address. It was a model that placed the interests of the region and its people first. As an alternative to economic dependence, a legacy of the colonial experience, it promoted self-reliance through the spirit of regional unity and cooperation. Odlum’s vision extended beyond the narrow confines of the English-speaking Caribbean. He embraced Cuba, for example, at a time when it wasn’t fashionable to do so. The fact that Cuba today is formally reintegrated into the Caribbean family can be attributed to the groundwork laid by people like Odlum. Odlum’s 30-odd years of public service was chequered because of his many disagreements with opponents and former comrades. However, no one denies his commitment to the betterment of St Lucia, especially the poor and underprivileged, once there’s acknowledgement that such disagreements were rooted largely in differences over how to get to a common destination called the ‘promised land’. Prime Minister Dr. Kenny D. Anthony poses with some members of the President’s Cabinet. left to right - Gian Dean (Research Associate), LornaMc. Laren(Research Coordinator), H.E Missouri Sherman-Peter (Chef de Cabinet), Hon. Dr. Kenny D. Anthony George Odlum was laid to rest on Prime Minister of St. Lucia), H.E Julan R. Hunte (President of the 58th UN General Assembly, Michele Joseph (Decolonisation October 6th, and Brian Bernard on Affairs), Mr. Kenneth Jordan (Coordinator, Political and Security Affairs, H.E Sonia Leonce Caryl (Deputy Chef de Cabinet). October 7th 2003, with official honours. Government Notebook “Take 2 ” - A fifteen minute news review of the week. A fresh news package daily Every Friday at 6.15 p.m. on NTN, Cablevision Channel 2. on all local radio stations 2 Saint Lucia NATIONWIDE Saturday October 25th 2003 ST. LUCIA’S CALL TO THE WORLD “It is neither pride nor the prospect of privilege that moves us to STATEMENT BY PRIME MINISTER OF ST. LUCIA HON. DR. KENNY assume the Presidency of the United Nations General Assembly, but a D. ANTHONY TO THE 58TH UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY certain determination, which is the renege on their commitments to the darkness. St. Lucia joins the international assembled for war, then surely, we can also unspoken strength of islands. Nor is it developing world in the areas of trade, debt community in expressing sympathy to gather “A Coalition of the Willing” to merely that we are honoured, though relief and aid. their families, and we reiterate our profound address the problems of poverty, disease, indeed we are, but that we also feel respect to those international workers who illiteracy, hunger and trade imbalances. worthy; as worthy as any other The Millennium Declaration goals of halving are so willing to make the ultimate sacrifice There can be no sanitizing of one corner of member of this community, and as global poverty is receding into to extend humanitarian assistance, the globe while contagion, despair and determined to make our contribution “nothingness”, but can be rescued if only security and comfort to those in peril and desperation fester elsewhere. There is no to the progress of humanity and the developed countries make good on their in need. security for the one while insecurity welfare of the world. Saint Lucia pledges. Moreover, we might challenge plagues the other. recognizes and appreciates that this ourselves beyond merely halving global UN System Presidency only became a reality with poverty, by aspiring to its virtual elimination. In this environment, it is essential that we But ultimately the strength of the United the support of the Latin American and By now, it should be clear to us all that maintain a United Nations which Nations must come from the political will Caribbean family. poverty issues are inseparable from human steadfastly adheres to its original core of the member states - a political will that rights issues, as are environmental issues values. Saint Lucia will resist any attempt must accept that everyone should adhere Our preoccupation is not with size, from economic and political development to delegitimize the United Nations system. to, abide by, and implement all the sovereignty, or power, but with people, and issues. National security and international Any strategy, which claims to embrace decisions of, and resolutions adopted by by this measure we are not small, nor are stability can only be realized where there peace, security, and justice and yet the organization. We cannot, in the name we just an island, for we do not stand is justice. excludes the United Nations, belies a of national interest, observe only some alone. We stand as one member of this flawed and unreal conception of world resolutions, and expect to have a strong organization, proud of the legacy and the affairs. This organization has been United Nations. vision that we can offer the world. We instrumental in the preservation of the assume this role because we wish to offer nation-state within a framework of binding The United Nations cannot be strengthened that vision to the world; because it is larger relationships among governments. More if we do not have the political will to accept than our 238 square miles and larger than importantly, the United Nations has been that its activities cannot be dictated by the our population of 159,000 people. It is a a devoted guardian of individual rights and agendas of a few powerful states, but must vision we wish to place at the service of freedoms. Saint Lucia maintains that the embrace, in equal measure, the concerns humanity. United Nations, precisely because of its of the small and the weak that are the diversity, is the only organization with the majority of its members. No single state, It is our hope that St. Lucia’s Presidency political and moral legitimacy to deal by virtue of its economic and military might, will offer a fresh perspective, an alternative adequately with global issues. should determine, on its own, the view, and a different but not discordant obligations and responsibilities of the rest voice to the heart of this assembly. As Mr. President, this universal body, this of humanity. Barbados Prime Minister Owen Arthur such, the people and Government of Saint United Nations, has no other choice but to Lucia express both their appreciation and chats to Dr. Anthony during a break heed the lessons of the past and the Pluralism their determination to you the members of at the UN General Assembly wisdom of the ages in its attempt to better Mr. President , “muscular unilateralism” and this international community. Appreciation Rupture serve humanity. When our predecessor the emerging doctrine of “diplomatic for the faith and trust bestowed upon us It was the prophet Isaiah who reminded us organization, the League of Nations, was unilateralism” cannot be the preferred with the presidency of this institution, and that if mankind is brought low, everyone discarded as irrelevant, we witnessed the approach to serious global issues. determination that we shall not fail you, will be humbled. Yet if we, the international advance of disorder and human “Exceptionalism” within the international but be judged equal to the task before us. community, retreat from the ideals of the catastrophe on a scale never before system is certain to fragment international If it is a task of Herculean proportion, then creation of a greater humanity, we would envisioned.