AMERY BROWNE, Minister for Foreign and CARICOM Affairs of Trinidad and Tobago, expressed deep concern over the ongoing war on Gaza, stating “only someone absolutely bereft of humanity would think that it is lawful and just, and even godly to respond to atrocities committed on one awful day of terror, by in turn committing atrocities after atrocities.”  He asked how the major Powers would have reacted if innocent civilians including women, children and United Nations staff were being killed at this record rate in the developed world.  Citing the “chilling message” that a Palestinian child is less worthy of life, he stressed:  the people of his country and of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) are not of that view.  Joining the call for an immediate, full, and complete ceasefire, and for the unconditional release of every single hostage, he reported that Trinidad and Tobago has recognized the State of Palestine.

Reporting on the scourge of the illicit trafficking of small arms and light weapons in his region, he welcomed efforts by partners including the United States to help solve this deadly challenge “which respects no borders”.  Voicing deep concern at the humanitarian and security crisis affecting Haiti, which should be held aloft as the first State to end slavery, he acknowledged the central need for an Indigenous, Haitian-led, Haitian-owned solution, supported by the United Nations and the international community.  He welcomed the appointment of an interim Prime Minister and Cabinet and commended the Kenyan Government for its deployment and leadership of the Multinational Security Support Mission and the States that contributed to that operation, including Jamaica, the Bahamas and several others in his region.  he United States has contributed the lion’s share of funding, with Canada stepping up as well — but some relatively wealthy countries have either contributed drips and drabs or nothing at all.

“The brutality of our colonial experience, the trauma of which still affects us to this day”, he went on to say, contributed significantly to underdevelopment.  “Our foreparents […] blood and sweat and tears and labour were extracted to build empires, and beautiful castles, and bridges, and treasures — which some of us pay money today to visit, and photograph and admire.”  Calling for restitution for those “historical evil injustices and crimes against humanity”, he noted that last year, Trinidad and Tobago appointed a reconstituted National Committee on Reparations to support the CARICOM Reparations Commission and its work with the African Union and other like-minded bodies. Turning to climate change, he called for accessible, adequate, and predictable funding, requiring operationalization and capitalization of the loss and damage fund.  Further, he expressed full solidarity with Cuba, renewing the call for the unconditional lifting of the unjust economic, commercial and financial embargo.  Additionally, its designation as a State sponsor of terrorism is unjust and should be removed.