UNITED NATIONS – Suriname Wednesday told the international community that “Haiti fatigue” is not an option and urged countries to provide more assistance as efforts continue to restore peace and security in the French-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country.
Suriname President Chandrikapersad “Chan” Santokhi, addressing the UN General Assembly on Wednesday (CMC Photo)Addressing the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Suriname President Chandrikapersad “Chan” Santokhi, praised the 15-member regional integration grouping, CARICOM, for its on-going role in bringing stability to the country.
“We are pleased to note through the Caribbean Community a roadmap towards free and fair elections has been initiated and a transitional government with a clear mandate has been installed”.
Haiti has been without an elected head of state since July 7, 2021 when President Jovenel Moise was assassinated at his private residence overlooking the capital, Port au Prince.
Since then criminal gangs have sought to overthrow the interim administration and last October the United Nations Security Council approved a resolution allowing for a Kenya led Multinational Security Support (MSS) Mission to provide much-needed respite to the Haitian people.
“We cannot leave Haiti and its people alone and behind. Haiti fatigue is not an option. We urge the international community to financially and technologically support Haiti on its path forward,” Santokhi told the global community.
He said Suriname will contribute to the MSS “in whatever way we can.
“We urge and call for a more effective and coherent approach and the transparent sharing of information regarding the different initiative to serve….the objective of facilitating peace, security and prosperity in Haiti and the Haitian people”.
Santokhi in his wide-ranging speech also called for an end to the decades old trade and economic embargo by the United States against Cuba.
“Leaving no one behind should also include lifting the long standing economic embargo against Cuba and its people,” he said, urging the need to foster greater collaboration and partnerships to address the long-term global issues as climate change, social inequality and access to affordable health care and quality education for all.
He said small nations also needed support for digital transformation to fully integrate into the digital global economy.
In his address, Santokhi said that Suriname is now emerging from a tight economic situation that in the past had hampered the Dutch-speaking country from generating its own development.
He said new measures by international banks and others in the international financial sector did not consider the country’s reality and the severe impact on the development objectives.
“This must be addressed head on if you want to be inclusive rather than exclusive. My country Suriname can attest to the importance of urgent needs from the global financial and political systems and to build greater trust in the multilateral system.
“Because of our ranking we are not eligible for several global financial instruments to the detriment of my people. Since taking office in July 2020, my government has successfully started a policy of financial economic reforms including restructuring the debt portfolio supported by an IMF programme and international financial institutions.
“The impact of the various crises and national efforts to reform the economy has not been easy for our population. But we are on the road to recovery now, macro-economic stability has been achieved.
‘We established a social safety net and increased several social benefits all meant to ensure that we shall not forget or exclude that part of our population from restoring a healthier economy,” Santokhi said.
The Suriname leader said he was also looking forward to the United Nations Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC COP 29) that will be convened in November 2024 in Baku, Azerbaijan, adding that he hopes it will not be another talk shop of promises and no meaningful results.
