Monday, October 25, 2010

T&T committed to meet UN Millennium Development Goals: Rambachan

Foreign Minister Dr Surujrattan Rambachan said on Monday Trinidad and Tobago is firm in its commitment to achieving all the UN Millennium Development Goals by the target date of 2015.

However, he said this can only be achieved "if we partner to address our individual and collective roles and responsibilities."

The minister said the Government of Trinidad and Tobago acknowledges the major contributions that the UN organizations continue to make "to our developing country during these crucial times."

And he noted that the UN continues to aid and foster "our nation’s progress in achieving the success of the Millennium Development Goals".

Rambachan made the remarks in a speech to mark UN Day 2010, commemorating the inauguration of the world body on October 24, 1945.

The focus of this year's celebration is on eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) which were on the agenda at the plenary of the UN General Assembly last month at which the Government of Trinidad and Tobago actively participated.

He said Trinidad and Tobago's celebration of UN Day is paying attention to natural disasters and other devastating weather phenomenon and their global, regional and national impact.

Rambachan made reference to and spoke of the need to pay attention to the devastation across the globe during 2010 with massive floods in Pakistan and the Haiti earthquake in January that left at least one million people homeless.

"Such focus is necessitated by the urgent need to meet Goal 7 of the Millennium Development Goals: ‘to ensure environmental sustainability,’ one strategy which may be achieved, through disaster mitigation and reduction," Rambachan said.

He also spoke of his government's own experience in dealing with disasters, noting that as a small island state Trinidad and Tobago understands "its vulnerability in the face of natural disasters, as we ourselves have been plagued with widespread flooding."

He added, "Consequently, we have put preventative measures in place to reduce the effects of natural disasters.

"The Government, with the aid of UN Agencies, is in the process of developing and reinforcing strategies to reduce the impact of disasters, and has provided emergency relief to the many families who have been affected this year by the floods that have been plaguing our country," he said.

The government has also involved school children in the celebration, which Rambachan said has been done with a view to fulfilling the government’s mandate to achieve inclusiveness and to ensure that children are aware and empowered.

Read the story: T&T Foreign Minister, students plant breadfruit trees to mark UN Day

"This is in keeping with our promise that education must form one of the major pillars of our economic development so that our young people are literate, numerate and possess critical thinking skills.

"Mindful also of the priority focus given to address the needs of children under the MDGs, the Government has endeavoured to achieve, and in some cases surpass, the targets set for 2015," the minister stated.

Rambachan also spoke of government's Children's Life Fund and the Milk Programme for infants as part of its overall commitment to health.

He said Trinidad and Tobago and other CARICOM member states will convene a high-level Meeting of the UN General Assembly on non communicable diseases in September 2011 "to address and formulate measures to combat non communicable diseases which hinder progress and development."

Rambachan noted that chronic non-communicable diseases such as heart disease, stroke, cancer and diabetes represent the leading causes of death in Trinidad and Tobago, representing 60 per cent of the deaths.

He said the government's approach is to work with the Ministries of Health and Education to review the National School Health Policy to ensure the well being of students from kindergarten, secondary and tertiary institutions.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in view of the debate on NCD’s which will take place in 2011 will also incorporating this initiative of healthy lifestyles to increase awareness of the debate at the UN.

"With the assistance of the Minister of Health a Health Caravan will be launched in various communities where the statistics for non communicable diseases are high. Residents will be screened for diabetes and hypertension. Early detection is vital in the campaign against non communicable diseases," Rambachan said.

Rambachan also thanked the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) for its support to the country in the fight against non communicable diseases.

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Jai & Sero

Jai & Sero

Our family at home in Toronto 2008

Our family at home in Toronto 2008
Amit, Heather, Fuzz, Aj, Jiv, Shiva, Rampa, Sero, Jai