MIA AMOR MOTTLEY, Prime Minister of Barbados, describing a world that has endured “four years of poly-crises” and is now confronted by “multiple theaters of war and armed conflict”, said:  “We cannot afford the distraction of war.  Together, the international community must now deliver new opportunities and solutions If ever there was a time to pause and reset, it is now.”  This reset must see an end to all forms of discrimination and rules and institutions that create first- and second-class citizens, she said, urging global institutions to give developing countries, especially small vulnerable ones like her own, “seats at the tables of decision-making where we can … become active agents in our own cause and lead our own development paradigms.”  Noting that 2024 is the final year of the UN’s Decade for People of African Descent, she joined the “growing chorus for the immediate proclamation of a second decade” to complete the unfinished work and address the matter of reparations for slavery and colonialism.

The reset must also be characterized by institutional reform that starts at the United Nations, she said, pointing out that:  “Councils which suggest that some are full members and others are only part-members, part-time or occasional members, have no place in the twenty-first century.”  Urging a reset in attitudes as much as actions or reforms, she said that transformative national agendas require much needed reform within international financial institutions.  Noting the launch of the third iteration of the Bridgetown Initiative, she said its three key pillars include changing the rules of the international financial system and reform of its governance and instruments; shockproofing economies by dealing with debt and liquidity comprehensively; and augmenting financing by boosting country capacity to invest in resilience, including the effective rechanneling of special drawing rights (SDRs) through multilateral development partners.  The international community must address how it secures and funds the global public commons, and tackles the climate crisis and biodiversity loss, among other global challenges.

“The SIDS [small island developing States] Agenda is another story of promises made but not kept,” she continued, recalling that 30 years ago, the international community gathered in Barbados to take action for the first time on the unique challenges faced by small island developing States and adopted the Barbados Programme of Action — the first ever global agenda for that bloc.  Since then, the vulnerabilities of small island developing States have become more pronounced, she said, calling on the international community to work together to realize the vision of the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS 2024. Two days ago, Barbados took over from Ghana the presidency of the Climate Vulnerable Forum and the Vulnerable 20, she reported, noting that priorities for its term include addressing the multiple dimensions of climate change, its impact on climate change and the issue of debt and climate.  She invited all climate-vulnerable Member States that have not yet done so to join others in the Climate Vulnerable Forum to strengthen their collective voice, enhance advocacy efforts and urgently address the climate crisis.

Above all else, a reset is needed to secure global peace, she underscored.  “The silence that has engulfed Sudan is unacceptable,” she said, lamenting too the situations in Myanmar, Ukraine, Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon.  These wars will come to an end, but at what cost and with how much loss of life, she asked, warning against “the desensitizing of ordinary people to the loss of lives, especially of innocent children and women” and “the anger and inclination for vengeance that it spawns”. Underscoring the need to work for peace, she reported that Barbados established diplomatic relations this year with the State of Palestine whose people are entitled to full recognition and support from the international community.  She condemned the actions of Hamas and strongly deplored the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza “which is the result of the disproportionate use of force by Israel”.  Moreover, she urged an end to the killing in Ukraine; a reset in the United States’ approach to assault weapons; and full support for Haiti’s stability.  Spotlighting Cuba as a valuable partner to Barbados, she once again urged lifting of the embargo because “it is simply wrong”.  Pointing to a climate crisis that is “hitting us almost weekly across the globe”, she said deniers too need a reset and should “admit the absolute necessity of collective action to save our way of life and our planet”.