Facing her peers at the 80th General Debate of the United Nations’ General Assembly, Her Excellency Sylvanie Burton, President of Dominica, emphasized the importance of global solidarity while asserting the rights of small nations to self-determination. In her address at the UN Headquarters in New York City, she highlighted the disparities between the developed and developing worlds, stating that we live in a dualistic reality, akin to Charles Dickens’ ” A Tale of Two Cities”, from which she quoted, illustrating how global power dynamics often overlook the needs and sovereignty of smaller nations.
Alluding to a de facto double-standard, President Burton called for a fairer international system where all countries, regardless of size, have an equitable voice in shaping global policies, especially on critical issues like climate change and security, relying on the rule of law instead of the machinations of power.
“Do we have a system where resources and decision-making are truly being equitably shared or are we instead operating a system where power protects itself?” she queried.
Honing in a little closer to home, she expressed Dominica’s unwavering support for Haiti, echoing the collective stance of CARICOM, and advocating for a Haitian-led solution to the country’s crisis.
“The government of Dominica remains convinced that our sister CARICOM state, Haiti, faces major challenges today, in part because of the glorious contribution Haiti made to the quest for justice and freedom in our region and the world,” said Burton, in a nod to the Haitian Revolution.
She also condemned sanctions and interventions, and underscored the significance of respecting the sovereignty of nations like Cuba and Venezuela, calling for the immediate lifting of unjust embargoes, asserting, “Cuba, like every other country, has a right to its self-determination.”
Regarding Venezuela’s internal affairs, the president emphasized that “the right of the government and people of Venezuela to resolve internal challenges without outside interference be respected.”
With recent US attacks on Venezuelan vessels occurring within the Caribbean’s peripheral reality, Burton reaffirmed that the region remains a zone of peace, warning against any military conflict seeping onto our shores. She called on global powers to find diplomatic alternatives to resolve international disputes, emphasizing that “there is no place in the Caribbean for war.”
Spelling out how conflicts and sanctions often have devastating impacts on small nations, exacerbating poverty, instability, and climate vulnerability, Burton urged the international community to prioritize dialogue, empathy, and adherence to the principles of the United Nations to foster a more just and peaceful world.
Concluding her address, President Burton appealed for reforms to ensure small nations have a meaningful role in decision-making processes, especially on climate and security issues, given the global impact of these sectors.
“We are always stronger, wiser, and better together,” she remarked.
It is very interesting that the speech included indications of solidarity and support for CARICOM. AWESOME! For a very long time Caricom member states have stood up for each other. So the enigma, or more precisely, the unexplained contradiction in the speech is seen in the wholesale support for the rogue administration in Caracas, which continues to defy the UN and its declaration regarding Guyana and its territorial rights that former leaders of Venezuela accepted but the current administration refuses to do. In fact, since 2023, it has renewed claims on 2/3 of Guyana. Why is Dominica’s president not appealing to the UN on Guyana’s behalf instead?
Why wasnt Skerrit at the UN
That was a great speech, Mrs. President! You are absolutely right, we are always stronger together, because as Kwame Nkrumah used to said in that very place: “The strenght of the Imperialists lies in our disunity. We have to guard closely our hard-won freedom and keep it safe from the predatory designs of those who wish to reimpose their will upon us. We have to free ourselves from the grip of economic imperialism, and protect our freedom” (Nkrumah. Africa must unite, 1963, pp.xv-xvii)
Your Excellency, just one question for you: are you saying that after President Maduro claimed victory in the recent elections without providing the tabulation of results, and bringing bogus charges against opposition çandidates, to the extent where one had to seek asylum in Spain and the other currently in hiding, that not even regional countries should say anything??
Be careful what you wish for since one day the country you now head may be in a similar situation.
It was Aesop who taught ” misery likes company “.
What is your apparent love for dictatorial regimes and one party states?
Actually I asked two. Please forgive.
Madame President, I too have nothing to say. Thank you.
So she does know how to throw around useless buzz words to impress people and not know what they mean. She went she spoke and nothing she said had any usefullness or meaning