PM Kamla in NY Monday for high level UN meetings; returns home Monday night

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar is in New York Monday to deliver the national statement in the plenary of the High-Level Meeting on the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) at the 66th Session of the United Nations General Assembly UNGA). 

Later in the day she will participate in the Interactive Panel discussion on the achievements and challenges in the prevention and control of NCD.  The Heads of State and Governments of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) are hosting the event in collaboration with PAHO/WHO.

Trinidad and Tobago was instrumental in placing NCDs on the agenda of the General Assembly and ensuring that it continued to receive the attention of the global community. 

These diseases account for about 60 per cent of all deaths worldwide with 80 per cent of the deaths in low and middle income developing countries. According to health data, these deaths are expected to increase by 17 per cent globally over the next ten years. 

A media release from the office of the Prime Minister Friday said, "The Prime Minister’s attendance at these events enhances Trinidad and Tobago’s reputation as a country committed to reducing the prevalence of NCDs among its population thus providing for increased support from multilateral partners for local efforts to deal with this issue which has the potential to reduce the life-expectancy of some of the most productive members of the workforce with significant effects on productivity in the workplace."

It added, "The issue of NCDs was one of the topics raised by the Honourable Prime Minister in her maiden address to last year’s General Assembly and is in keeping with the efforts of Trinidad and Tobago to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. 

"It brings together world leaders and focuses on concerted action and a coordinated response at the national, regional and global levels to adequately address the developmental and other challenges posed by NCDS. 

"Discussions will centre on ways of dealing with the treatment of, for example, cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes. 

"This historic meeting which will also witness the participation of the World Health Organization, other intergovernmental organizations and representatives of civil society, is expected to lead to the adoption of measures calling for international cooperation to deal with the rising prevalence, morbidity and mortality in relation to NCDs worldwide."

The Prime Minister’s one-day visit to New York will also include the High Level Colloquium on Women, further promoting the involvement of women at the international level which mirrors what she has been doing locally.

The Colloquium entitled: “Women Political Participation-making gender equality in politics a reality” takes place in the margins of the UN General Assembly between 3 to 5pm and will be broadcast live on the UN webcast.

It was originally organised by Trinidad and Tobago with the involvement of UN-Women and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and has now engendered great enthusiasm among many delegations at the UN. 

It is being co-sponsored by Brazil's President, the US Secretary of State and the European Union. UN Member States hailing the Prime Minister as a true champion of women’s issues at the global level, the release stated.

In less than two years in office, the Trinidad & Tobago PM has become a "powerhouse of influence in the lives of global women leaders," the release added.