Geoffrey Hanley urges stronger financing and resilience support for Caribbean states at UNGA81

St. Kitts and Nevis: Acting Prime Minister Geoffrey Hanley emphasised the significance of resilience building, realities confronting the Caribbean States, growing impact of climate change, high debt burdens, limited fiscal space and restricted access to concessional financing.

He said that the climate crisis is a development crisis and the Caribbean countries contribute minimally to global greenhouse gas emissions. Although the region remains among the first ones to face the wrath of the natural calamities that can erase years of their development or progress in a matter of hours.

Hanley said, “I used the opportunity to highlight the realities confronting our Caribbean states, including the growing impacts of climate change, high debt burdens, limited fiscal space and restricted access to concessional financing.”

He also emphasized the importance of resilience building, the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index (MVI), reform of the international financial architecture, a fair and rules-based international trading system, and the responsible use of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.

He emphasised that CARICOM remains committed to working with the international community to ensure that the right to development is not merely an aspiration, but is reflected in meaningful and tangible improvements in the lives of our people throughout the Caribbean and beyond.

“It was a privilege to represent our Caribbean Community and lend our collective voice to this important global conversation.”

Representing the Federation on the world stage, he brought attention to the climate threats facing small island states and spoke to St Kitts and Nevis’ ambition to build a more resilient, sustainable future.

Dr. Hanley also highlighted the Federation’s pursuit of renewable energy and reaffirmed its support for Taiwan’s meaningful participation in the United Nations system. His message carried the perspective of a small nation with a clear stake in global decisions: climate action, sustainable development and international cooperation must include the people and countries whose futures depend on them.