Prime Minister King addresses climate change issues at AOSIS

New York, Monday, September 21, 2009 - Prime Minister Stephenson King called for adequate financial resources that are predictable and accessible with minimal conditionality for small states to cover the cost of climate change.

Prime Minister King’s statement was delivered at the Alliance of Small States (AOSIS) Summit on Monday, ahead of the UN Summit on Climate Change convened at the United Nations on Tuesday, 22^nd September.

In his statement, the Prime Minister indicated that “although mitigation measures are absolutely important, we must not lose focus, but rather maintain that adaptation measures also receive immediate attention with the focus on implementing adequate financing for adaptation.”

Prime Minister King also emphasized the need for financial resources to be “above and beyond Official Development Assistance.” (ODA)

As CARICOM lead spokesperson on sustainable development, Prime Minister King reminded AOSIS member States of the need for a way forward on issues of divergence among members such as: Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) REED, agreement on commitments from developed countries, as well as the legal form of the Copenhagen Outcome.

Whilst in New York to attend the AOSIS Summit on climate change and the Secretary General’s Summit on Climate Change, the Prime Minister profited the opportunity to meet with a number of leaders to discuss areas of mutual interest and to gather support for the rebuilding efforts for Saint Jude’s Hospital.

On Monday the Prime Minister met with Congressman Donald Payne of New Jersey, a leading member of the Congressional Black Caucus, of the US House of Representatives. The meeting was arranged by the Saint Lucia New York Office and the North Jersey Saint Lucia Association. Congressman Payne and Prime Minister King discussed issues of security, improving US/CARICOM relations. The congressman promised to look into the best mechanism for support for the reconstruction of Saint Jude’s Hospital .

Later the Prime Minister met with the Prime Minister of Australia and discussed improved relations between Australia and the Caribbean region. The Prime Minister of Australia also promised to assist in the reconstruction of the Saint Jude's Hospital.

Meantime, Foreign Minister, Honourable Rufus Bousquet travels to New York today, to continue discussions with his counterpart ministers attending the General Assembly of the United Nations.

Minister Bousquet addresses the General Assembly of the United Nations on Monday September 28, to be followed by a small reception at the Saint Lucia Mission.

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