Statement by The Most Honourable Andrew Holness, Prime Minister of Jamaica to the 71st Session of the United Nations General Assembly
September 26, 2016 at 9:18 am.
Introduction & Context
Mr. President,
I am honoured to join fellow leaders at this 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly, which affords us an opportunity to undertake the most effective global response to the challenges for which the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was elaborated.
I congratulate you on your assumption of the Presidency of this session, and I am particularly pleased that the representative of a small, island-developing state is presiding over our assembly. I am confident that our deliberations will translate into meaningful commitments and actions under your able leadership.
Let me thank the Secretary-General for his contribution to the work of the United Nations over the past 10 years. He is to be commended for his tireless efforts in guiding the Organisation, allowing it to remain at the forefront of international dialogue, consensus building and cooperation.
Mr. President,
With the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in September last year, we as a global community have committed ourselves to securing the well being of all peoples. Jamaica is mindful, however, that for this outcome to be realized, national efforts must be complemented by global partnerships. Indeed, we are conscious that ‘transforming our world’ is the responsibility of all of us – every nation and every individual. Under my leadership, despite the challenges, we in Jamaica are fully committed and are laying the foundation for accelerated, sustained economic growth.
Mr. President,
Like many other countries, our path towards sustainable development has been hindered by years of low growth, crippling national debt and high unemployment, which have been exacerbated by our vulnerability to natural hazards and other exogenous shocks.
Consistent with the priorities of Jamaica’s Vision 2030 and the global Sustainable Development Goals my Government is implementing strategies to achieve economic growth, job creation, security and poverty alleviation. These are our overriding objectives for the next four years.
We are forging stronger partnerships with our private sector and undertaking structural reforms to foster an enabling business environment, which will make Jamaica a more attractive destination for local and foreign direct investment.
We are also resolute in our commitment that economic activity must be undertaken in a manner that not only protects and preserves our natural environment, but that develops our most important asset, the people of Jamaica. In addition, we will continue to develop a social protection framework that is essential for safeguarding the welfare of the most vulnerable in our society.
Enhanced Global Economic Governance and Related Issues
Mr. President,
While Jamaica will pursue a self reliant path, I must bring to the attention of the General Assembly a matter that requires international co-operation
Highly Indebted Middle Income countries like Jamaica, a group I wish to call the “HIMIC” countries, are poised for economic transition with relatively high levels of health and education attainment. However, in a climate of historically low economic growth, this potential is gravely threatened by having to choose between debt repayment and catalytic growth spending
For Jamaica, there is no choice. Jamaica must repay its debt, and we are repaying our debt. However, the consequence is that there are no resources available for the government to make the kinds of public investment that can stimulate economic activity. In addition, spending on critical issues such as security, the absence of which negatively impacts growth, is compromised.
In these circumstances, developing countries would previously be able to tap into development assistance that can be used for growth inducing counter-cyclical investment in infrastructure, which in turn strengthens debt repayment capacity. However, arbitrary classification on the basis of GDP per capita precludes HIMIC countries from accessing such resources.
The problem Mr. President is that while GDP per capita gives an indication of average incomes, it says nothing about the “stock of wealth” a country possess nor does it take into account the vulnerabilities that some countries face.
Furthermore, Mr. President, some HIMIC countries like Jamaica have made deep structural and fiscal reforms to improve fiscal management and achieve debt sustainability ensuring that we will never return to unsustainably high levels of debt. However, in the absence of an abundance of unused spare capacity in our economies, these reforms do not immediately kick-start the growth cycle. Instead, new investment needs to follow of a scale and velocity that is difficult to undertake without the full engagement of international development institutions.
Mr. President this creates the prospect of a HIMIC Trap – a situation where countries are at the cusp of transitioning but are stalled with the risk of reversal.
The presumption that Middle Income Country Status obviates the need for ongoing access to Official Development Assistance and Concessional Financing is not supported by empirical evidence.
The potential HIMIC trap threatens hard-won developmental gains and countries such as ours, have for some time been highlighting this problem.
Yet Mr. President, the prospect of a HIMIC trap has not yet triggered a change in the mindset of those who preside over the decision-making processes that directly influence our global, economic and financial outlook. I re-emphasise that a review of this broad categorization of countries, based solely on GDP per capita, must be undertaken as this measure, in isolation, fails to fully and accurately take account of added vulnerabilities, and levels of indebtedness. There are various other measures of development that should be taken into account.
Mr. President, several years ago the international community nobly responded to the problem of unsustainable debt in poor countries through the HIPPIC Initiative guided by the principle that “no poor country should face a debt burden that it cannot manage”. We supported this then and we support it now.
However, Mr President, the time has come for the internationally community to similarly converge around a HIMIC initiative underpinned by the principle that highly indebted countries that have undiversifiable structural vulnerabilities, such as small size or susceptibility to the effects of climate change, and that responsibly and faithfully service their debt, should be facilitated with assistance in the form of investment, favourable trade, technology transfer, security cooperation and energy.
To qualify for inclusion in any HIMIC Initiative a country, in addition to being a Highly Indebted Middle Income Country, should have un-diversifiable structural vulnerabilities and a demonstrated track record of commitment to economic, fiscal and social reform under programs supported by loans from the IMF and the World Bank.
Mr. President, the collective size of the problem is such that a HIMIC initiative would not burden the international system. However, the potential impact of assisting these countries in transitioning would put more countries in a position to make greater contributions to the international system in the near future.
Debt for Climate Change
Mr. President,
Jamaica is pursuing reforms to improve the efficiency of the public sector, improving its customer service delivery, pursuing economies of scale, reducing duplication and aligning the public sector towards enabling and facilitating economic growth and development.
While we pursue reforms aimed at boosting fiscal sustainability and growth we are also looking at innovative ways of matching our financing needs with sustainable development objectives.
Jamaica will work with development partners to pursue debt for climate change swaps. This holds the potential of providing bilateral and multilateral relief for climate change adaptation and mitigation initiatives. Such a mechanism has the potential to provide fiscal relief while helping to unlock pledged climate finance to fund climate change adaptation and mitigation projects.
As a climate vulnerable country, Jamaica will play its part to close the climate implementation gap while at the same time addressing this debt overhang.
This has the potential to be a groundbreaking approach.
Peace and Security
Mr. President,
Peace and security is a sustainable development goal. This is often spoken about in the context of peace between states. However, peace within states is just as important.
Jamaica, like much of the Caribbean and Central America, is challenged by crime, concentrated in certain communities. This has had a destructive impact on families, particularly poor families, deterred investment, and discouraged business development. Crime in sections of Jamaica therefore threatens the attainment of sustainable development goals. Tackling crime is a priority of the government.
While the Jamaican government will do its part, the common problem we face in our region requires deeper security cooperation.
Mr President, The international community must also move with greater alacrity towards eradicating the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons.
Jamaica is acutely aware of the destruction that can be wrought, as a result of easy access to small arms and light weapons, particularly when in the possession of sophisticated networks of organised criminal groups. Our strategic location, which is extremely favourable for trade and logistics, also provides a potential transit point for illicit activities.
It is this reality that has defined and propelled our participation in a range of bilateral, regional and multilateral arrangements, aimed at restricting the source, means and capabilities that have been fuel to these dangerous relationships, made even more destructive through links to the drug trade.
Jamaica has been a staunch supporter of the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) and we are working towards its full and effective implementation.
We call on all arms exporting countries, to abide by their legally binding obligations under the Treaty.
In that regard, Jamaica was honoured to have Chaired the recently convened 6th Biennial Meeting of States on the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons.
Mr. President,
We need to effectively address the emerging crisis of the withdrawal of correspondent banking services to certain financial institutions in the Caribbean. De-Risking threatens our economies. This trend hinders our participation in the global financial system and in international trade. This in turn creates serious obstacles in our efforts toward promoting investment.
We respect and believe in complying with financial regulatory standards and working within the Rules Based, multilateral trade and financial system. Trade represents approximately 70% of the Jamaican economy and, as such, de-risking measures threaten our integration and economic viability.
We therefore encourage our international partners to take the approach of establishing principles that ensure inclusive development strategies based on a country’s ability to engage in a vibrant, dynamic international trading system.
Mr. President,
In respect of global trade, Jamaica realizes that the continuation of the economic embargo against our sister Caribbean country, Cuba, is out of step with recent actions to reestablish diplomatic relations between Cuba and the United States. We therefore call for its early lifting.
Mr. President,
The hallmark of any civilized society is how it treats its most vulnerable. We must treat the issue of prevention of violence against our most vulnerable, particularly our women and children as a priority. We must seek to empower our women to realise their full potential. Jamaica has a long track record of championing the rights of women and will continue to advocate for full implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.
We also cannot leave our children behind. In order for our children to realize their full potential, they must be provided with the opportunity to live in an environment that is free from fear and violence. It is this resolve, which undergirds our support for the Global Partnership to End Violence Against Children (GPVAC).
Increased global cooperation – a medium for meaningful change
Mr. President, the international community must scale-up cooperation to respond to the growing and deepening health crises that have gripped our world. Jamaica, like other countries, continue to struggle with preventing and controlling the common risk factors associated with the prevalence of noncommunicable diseases and also new and emerging diseases. The emerging and re-emerging epidemics associated with the transnational movements of microbes such as Ebola, Zika, and Chikungunya are placing severe challenges on national budgets.
The recently concluded high-level meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance and HIV/AIDS has also highlighted another dimension of the global health situation that needs to be arrested if we are to ensure that our citizenry live full and productive lives.
Mr. President,
Another issue that necessitates continued cooperation at the global, regional and national levels is our response to Climate Change and the increasing occurrence of natural disasters including extreme weather related phenomena. These events, increasingly spurred by man made activity, remain a clear and present danger for many societies, particularly Small Island Development States. We have seen from recent experiences that no country, or group of countries, can be considered to be outside the reach of such events.
The Paris Agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction provides us with a blueprint for action to ensure that our development efforts do not compromise the ability of future generations to enjoy a world in which their needs can be adequately met. I can assure you that Jamaica remains committed to the implementation of these Agreements, and will work towards continuing the effective implementation of the commitments.
As the host country to the International Seabed Authority, we attach great importance to matters pertaining to the Law of the Sea. Jamaica supports the development of a legally binding international instrument on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction, and is actively participating in its negotiation.
Conclusion
Mr. President,
Jamaica has had a long and fruitful association with the United Nations, one that it values highly. We are firm in our commitment to multilateralism and to the continued strengthening of the Organisation.
We stand on the threshold of a world of possibilities; a world in which all persons can be given an opportunity to realize their full potential and where every nation state can better provide for the well being of its citizens. We must not only live up to the expectation, we must surpass it. At this 71st session, let us re-commit to the ideals of the Charter and the noble ideals of this Organisation and let us re-commit to achieving the goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Let us join together in the spirit of the National Pledge of Jamaica, to …‘advance the welfare of the whole human race’.
I thank you.
JAMAICA’S NATIONAL STATEMENT TO THE HIGH-LEVEL SEGMENT OF THE TWENTY SECOND SESSION OF THE MEETING OF THE CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES TO THE UNITED NATIONS FRAMEWORK CONVENTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE
15TH NOVEMBER 2016
Salutations
Mr. President,
Please accept Jamaica’s heartiest congratulations and best wishes on your chairmanship of this Conference.
I also express our sincere appreciation to the Government and people of the Kingdom of Morocco, for the excellent facilities and warm hospitality afforded us.
As a small island state, Jamaica finds itself looking ahead each year with some trepidation, to the anticipated hurricane season. We do so because, increasingly, these occurrences are more threatening and more damaging in impact. Against this background, we are in deep sympathy with the governments and peoples of Haiti, Cuba, The Bahamas and the United States of America, for losses sustained as a result of the passage of Hurricane Matthew this year.
These developments are potent evidence of the negative impacts of climate change. Like other small island developing states, Jamaica is vulnerable to the effects of sea-level rise, severe weather events, changes in rainfall patterns and increases in temperatures.
In addition to experiencing more intense tropical storms and hurricanes, our countries are subject to more incidents of damage due to flooding, longer periods of, and more severe droughts, and increasing cases of vector-borne diseases transmitted mainly by the aedes aegypti mosquito.
Mr. President, an increase in the number of tropical cyclones since 2004 has also caused severe damage to our infrastructure and has reduced our GDP considerably. The delivery of potable water to Jamaican households was also severely hampered over the past few years, due to one of the worst droughts in the island’s history. These drought conditions also affected the health and agriculture sectors; the latter being mainly rain-fed, increasing the cost of production to farmers, as well as to consumers, who had to pay higher prices for agricultural products.
For these reasons, Mr. President, my country is committed, together with our CARICOM brothers and sisters, to the process which has been underway through the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, to seek international agreement to halt, and even reverse the adverse effects of climate change.
The entry into force of the Paris Agreement on 4thNovember, and the convening here, in Marrakesh, of this first Conference of Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties of the Paris Agreement, are major milestones on the road to developing a low carbon, climate resilient world. Jamaica is proud of the leadership role it has played to get us this far, and I wish to assure this august body that Jamaica remains fully committed to ratification of the Paris Agreement. To this end, we are working assiduously on the requisite domestic procedures.
We are also conscious that with the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in September 2015, a global framework has emerged to address the multiplicity of issues, including climate-related concerns, affecting the growth and development of all our countries and the well-being of our peoples.
Mr. President, climate change is a developmental issue of global proportion that, in many cases, requires solutions which are beyond the efforts of many developing countries. Small island developing states are challenged. Mr. President, those of us which are also Highly Indebted Middle Income countries are even moreso. For us, urgent action, increased support and creative solutions are a must.
This Marrakesh Meeting is therefore an opportunity to consolidate the progress made, and accelerate action on climate change. For small island developing states, adaptation to climate change is also critical.
Jamaica continues to build resilience in our systems through a rigorous national adaptation planning process, but our continued progress can only be realized through the strengthened global partnerships, which we expect to result from our meetings here this week.
We look forward therefore, to a scaling-up of ambition in limiting temperature increases to well below 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels; increased levels of, and simplified access, to climate financing with a strong focus on adaptation for developing countries; the use of innovative mechanisms such as debt for climate change swaps; and the full acceptance of the Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage.
This conference is a further call to action for us to be decisive in the agreements reached, innovative in solutions proposed, and thereby hold ourselves accountable to future generations. It is time for action and I urge us to boldly seize the moment.
Thank you.