PM Terrance Drew focuses on building resilience in SIDS 2024

Basseterre, St. Kitts and Nevis: Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, Dr. Terrance Drew emphasised on the importance of building resilience and protecting all the Caribbean nations from the external shocks which are a huge threat to the SIDS development. He is attending the fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States which will be taking place from 27th to 30th May 2024.

The leader of the nation addressed everyone during the conference and shed light on the elements in which the development and prosperity of small island developing states depend. While stating the importance of technology, he stated that it is creating a new global elite for the innovators, commercial systems and democratisation of government to foster growth and development.

He focused on making the technological usage accessible to all the young citizens of Small Island developing states with the vision to promote social and economic activity among them. During his address, he also shed light on the implementation of mixed policy, finance and adaptation measures to tackle the devastating effects of climate crisis otherwise the dreams of development and prosperity of small-island nations will come to naught.

PM Drew, being the CARICOM’s Lead Prime Minister on health issues, also highlighted the growing cases of vector-borne diseases such as dengue and Lyme disease. He further added that disrupting the healthcare system is one of the major reasons behind poor treatment outcomes and the death of individuals.

The leader of the nation marked the importance of growth in infrastructural facilities be it physical development, energy, climate smart hospitals and water. He called infrastructure a ‘crosscutting issue’ which are of the most important aspects for the growth and development of small island developing states.

He stated that many states of SIDS are suffering from the water scarcity problems which is directly affecting their agricultural sector resulting in lack of food and nutritional security to the individuals. He also added that Caribbean is anticipated to face a decline of 10-20% in crop yields by the year 2050 because of the problem of climate change.

While shedding light on the need of fulfilling CARICOM’s initiative of reducing food import bill by 25% by 2025, he added that “SIDS cannot have resilient healthcare systems unless they have resilient food system.” Therefore, the Caribbean need to focus on improving the agricultural practices in order to avoid all these complications in future.

Moreover, Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew also extended congratulations to Gaston Browne, the PM of Antigua and Barbuda, for his appreciative work with the United Nations High-Level Panel on the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index with the vision to promote the economic well-being of the nation.

The leader stated that it is their primary responsibility to overcome all these challenges and take measures to safeguard and preserve the healthcare system and future of small island developing states and their people.

“We, the children of the world’s nation-states, have come together in pursuit of prosperity for SIDS; we must not let it escape us,” noted PM Terrance Drew.