Please allow me to thank you, Mr. President for inviting us to attend the 13th Caribbean Week of Agriculture in your beautiful country, Suriname. I am grateful for the warm welcome and generous hospitality extended to us since our arrival in Paramaribo.
The time has come again when the Region’s agricultural sector holds its premier annual event. This is the thirteenth Caribbean Week of Agriculture to have been held since it commenced in 1999 and every year the event has brought together participants in the agricultural sector in a number of fields ranging from producers themselves to scientific personnel to those with political responsibility.
Mr President
Secretary General
Excellencies
Ladies and gentlemen
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE PRIESIDENT
I begin by congratulating you Mr President, on your election to preside over the 69th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
Your election comes at a time when we are about to commence the second phase in the elaboration of the Post 2015 development agenda, which I am confident, as I am sure we all are, that you will administer and lead with distinction.
Mr. President,
The Commonwealth Secretary-General, Kamalesh Sharma, said this a few days ago: "Don't be demoralised by your income; be inspired by your outcome".
That should be a driving principle, as all countries, particularly the Small Island Developing States, seek to determine what the post-2015 Development Agenda will be. The obstacles are many. The lip service is
evident. We have hope and our moral case is strong. We are inspired by the potential possible outcomes of this new development agenda.
President of the General Assembly, Mr. Sam Kutesa Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr. Ban Ki-moon Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen.
My statement today is made on behalf of the President of the Republic of Suriname, His Excellency Desire Delano Bouterse.
Mr. President,
We want you to be assured of our support in these turbulent times of international politics. Your task will not be an easy one.
We pay tribute to your predecessor Ambassador John Ashe, for his excellent leadership during the 68th Session.
We gather this week to reaffmn our commitment to peace, justice and development.
It is indeed an honour for me to address this august body for the first time, since assuming the portfolio of Minister of Foreign Affairs a little over one year ago. I take pleasure, Mr. President,
in sharing the perspectives of the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis on matters before this sixty-ninth session of the United Nations General Assembly.
Mr. President, exactly one year ago, September 30th 2013, I had the unsurpassed glory of delivering my maiden address to this august assembly, and utilised that occasion to pay homage to those great architects of world peace who fostered the birth and initial dynamics of our United Nations. In so doing, Mr. President, I used the principles contained in the UN Charter as a ready compass to set my course as I navigated the issues, which occupied the forefront of our attention at that time.
Mr, President,
I stand here today as a representative of a nation with strong ancestral ties to the African Continent to welcome your election to the Presidency of this 69th session of the General Assembly. We are
confident that the experience and skills that you bring to this high office wilt be invaluable as we tackle the myriad challenges that confront us today.
Mr. President: Mr. Secretary General
Ladies and Gentlemen
I wish to congratulate you, Mr. President, on your assumption of the presidency of this year's General Assembly. I must also commend your predecessor, Ambassador John Ashe of Antigua and Barbuda, and his team, for so effectively setting the stage for what will now follow under your distinguished tenure, as it relates to the post-2015 development agenda and other critical issues that warrant the focused
attention of the international community.