MESSAGE FROM THE CARIBBEAN COMMUNITY (CARICOM) ON THE ELECTION OF SENATOR THE HONOURABLE JULIAN HUNTE OF SAINT LUCIA TO THE PRESIDENCY OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY (UNGA)

The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) extends its warmest congratulations to Senator the Honourable Julian Hunte, OBE, Minister of External Affairs, International Trade and Civil Aviation of Saint Lucia on his recent election as President of the 58th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

Minister Hunte is a distinguished Caribbean son who has served his country and region with distinction over the course of his long political career. Most recently, during his tenure as Chairman of CARICOM’s Council for Foreign and Community Relations (COFCOR), Minister Hunte successfully spearheaded the strengthening and deepening of the Community’s external relations with third states, financial institutions and developmental organizations regionally, within the hemisphere and internationally.

The election of Minister Hunte to the Presidency of the UNGA, representing the smallest country to hold this position, is testimony to the intrinsic value of this august institution, which recognizes the equality of all sovereign states in global affairs. Minister Hunte’s assumption to this high and prestigious international position is in keeping with Saint Lucia’s outstanding record of international achievements, which has seen that country of a mere hundred thousand, or so souls, produce two Nobel Prize winners. The Caribbean Community is proud of this further achievement by Saint Lucia and pledges its full support for the newly elected President and for the UNGA, as that body seeks to address the myriad political, economic, security and social challenges in the quest for the continued development of its Members and the promotion of international peace and security.