The minister requested that funding for SIDS for climate change adaptation be given the international attention it deserves.

Minster for External Affairs, International Trade and Civil Aviation, Hon. Alva Baptiste, addressed the 69th Session of the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday. He spoke on the assembly’s theme: “Delivering and Implementing a Transformative Post 2015 Development Agenda.”

Minister Baptiste told the assembly that the recent Samoa Pathway conclusions have laid the foundation to address issues inhibiting the development of Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

“As the Commonwealth recently pointed out, research has shown that countries most exposed to preference loss are mainly SIDS; such as Saint Lucia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Dominica, Jamaica and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines,” he said. “We continue to stress the need for assistance to fund adaptation, mitigation and recovery measures for vulnerable SIDS.”

The Minister informed the gathering that losses and damages in SIDS due to climate change continue unabated—outstripping the capacity to cope, and setting back the development progress of these countries.

“The Saint Lucian Government needs the recommendations of the Samoan conference to be given the international attention that it deserves,” he said. “This is critical considering that along with inhibiting sustainable development, the instability of the economic system only serves to aggravate the precarious positions of small island states.”

Minister Baptiste called for the further development of the Adaptation Fund so that SIDS can cope with the negative effects of climate change.