Persad-Bissessar and Ban spoke on issues pertaining to the impact of small arms and light weapons on Trinidad and Tobago, of non-communicable diseases, on matters of gender and children and climate change.
She was accompanied at the meeting with Ban by Foreign Affairs Minister Dr. Surujrattan Rambachan, Housing and Environment Minister Dr. Roodal Moonilal and Minister of the People and Social Development Dr. Glenn Ramadharsingh.
The Prime Minister said there was a need for an Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) and urged the Secretary General to persuade States that have been reticent about the need for an ATT to support such an initiative.
Persad-Bissessar noted that the illegal firearms are integrally linked to the crime in criminal activity in Trinidad and Tobago.
She also observed that the illicit drug trade has evolved as a major and independent category of transnational criminal activity.
The Prime Minister asked that the Secretary General allocate “adequate resources” to the remaining sessions of the Preparatory Committee for the United Nations Conference on the ATT, scheduled for 2010.
She called for the re-opening of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. This, she said, assist with building research capacity, training initiatives and assisting in community intervention strategies in fighting crime and drugs in the region.
On the matter of non-communicable diseases, Persad-Bissessar said Trinidad and Tobago and the rest of Caricom looks forward to a “purposeful” high-level meeting of the UN General Assembly on the subject.
This conference is set for next September.
She also called for “greater importance” to be placed to the inclusion of indicators to monitor progress in addressing these issues.
On the subject of women, Ms. Persad-Bissessar hailed the appointment of former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet Jeria to head UN Women, the new entity for gender equality and women’s empowerment.
She spoke of advances being made in Trinidad and Tobago by women and girls, including the fact that 51 per cent of students at tertiary education institutions are females.
Also, 28 per cent of parliamentarians and 25 per cent of local government representatives are women, Persad-Bissessar said.
She said she looks forward to there being representation from the Caribbean on the Executive Board of UN Women.
The Prime Minister commended the Secretary General on UN’s initiatives with respect to children. She stressed that women’s health is of great importance to Trinidad and Tobago.
She noted the setting up of the Children’s Fund and other relevant programmes. She invited partnership with international organisations, such as UNICEF, in this initiative.
Speaking of climate change, Persad-Bissessar said measures have been instituted consistent with Trinidad and Tobago’s circumstances and as provided under the Copenhagen Accord.
As a member of the Alliance of Small Island States, Trinidad and Tobago would like to see deep and ambitious cuts in greenhouse gas emissions by developed countries, she stated.
She congratulated the Secretary General on his efforts to keep climate change at the top of the international agenda.
Persad-Bissessar said Trinidad and Tobago will like to see that any decisions which come out of an upcoming conference in Cancun would provide for strong measures to be taken on technology transfer, financing, capacity building and reducing emissions form deforestation.
Ken Ali | New York
No comments:
Post a Comment