STATEMENT BY

HONOURABLE JULIAN R. HUNTE

MINISTER OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS,

INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND CIVIL AVIATION OF

SAINT LUCIA

THIRTY-SECOND SPECIAL SESSION OF THE

ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES (OAS)

GENERAL ASSEMBLY

BRIDGETOWN, BARBADOS -JUNE 2-4, 2002

SPECIAL SECURITY CONCERNS OF SMALL ISLAND

STATES

Madame Chair,

United States President, Franklin D. Roosevelt, once made an observation, which is very applicable to our hemispheric discourse on security, trans-border and transnational threat and the special concerns of small states,- He said: "The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much,: it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little." These poignant words remind us that we need to embrace similar thinking -in light of 9/11 -in order to address the challenges of terrorism which threaten global democracy. In the reciprocal relationship of great power and great responsibility, great states are urged to step up to the plate in assisting those who are most vulnerable and have least capacity. That is one way in which we can make progress on matters of security and sustainability.

The demise of the Cold War ushered in a new global economy no longer dominated by the politics of aid. International trade, orchestrated by multinational corporations, looms large on the landscape of international relations. However, this geopolitical shift has left the Caribbean in an awkward position. In many ways this is now a world which no longer really needs small island states.

We are decidedly handicapped in our ability to compete in the exchange of goods and services in a liberalized, globalised market. Given this new global economy, the Caribbean has continually advocated for special provisions to be made for Small Island developing states. Without them, our various handicaps would seem to lead inevitably to hardship, as our ability to compete in the global markets gradually lessens.

Consequently, there are many economic inequalities in the new world order, which impact the way that nations relate to each other. Ideally, we would like to think that in any organization of states, all member states would be equal. However, we are only too aware that some states are more equal than others. However, inequalities ought not to result in inequity, where nations which are small, vulnerable, open, defenceless and fiscally-volatile, are tacitly made to feel that they don't really matter in the scheme of things. For example, why are small states the dumping ground for criminally graduated deportees?

Madam Chair, the vulnerability of small states has been fully discussed and reported on at such forums as the United Nations Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island States held in Barbados in May of 1994, and the UN meetings of 1999 and 2000 on the Security Concerns of Small States. At the latter meetings not only were security concerns addressed, but mechanisms were identified to address those concerns. What is needed now is not too much more discussion, but rather the implementation of the recommended mechanisms, at the very least, the fIrst steps in the process.

Madame Chair, in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on the United States, the global economy plunged into recession. At the same time, however, our global interdependence was underscored. For in matters of combating terrorism, it was clear to all that the chain is as strong as the proverbial weakest link. Yet, these dreadful terrorist acts only exacerbated the Caribbean's challenges by bringing immediate recession. For, leading up to 9/11, we banana states were already imperiled through the WTO ruling, which resulted in the loss of the protected status of our bananas. However, the decline in bananas is only one aspect of the hydra-headed beast that threatens our economic survival. Terrorism has impacted our tourism significantly in that visitor arrivals have contracted. This is due to not only a lack of confidence in flying, but also to a decrease in disposable income available for leisure and pleasure.

Madame Chair, when you are small and insignificant, you can be terrorized by multinational corporations forming economic blocs whose bottom line is profit, profit and more profit. Experiences world-wide have shown these corporations are not above exploiting -or expunging - impoverished nations to achieve this. As small states, we are also vulnerable to natural disasters, due to ecological damage and to the long-term devastation which they can cause. We are under threat of grave environmental damage as nuclear waste is transported through our waters, where one accidental or intentional spillage could destabilise entire islands, indeed, several island states simultaneously, along with our tourist industry. Weare threatened by states who target and seemingly blacklist wholesale our financial services. Why? Because we can actually dare to compete in the area of financial services. Add to this, the propaganda that our lax legislation and supervision are conducive to money laundering, and one begins to see what small island states are up against.

Madame Chair, Saint Lucia is like many other comparatively small, vulnerable nations, in that we have a diminished capacity to bounce back easily from threats to our stability and sustainability. When one's economic survivability is so tightly interfaced with one's social stability, the time and place has come to embrace a broader definition of security: A definition which is multi-dimensional in scope and application. A definition which encompasses the eradication of poverty. For the reality

of competing priorities in an economy which is not diverse, means that critical resources might well have to be diverted from programmes such as those for poverty eradication, and put towards beefmg up of the country's infrastructural, technical, fiscal and intelligence capacity to manage terrorist threat. These concerns notwithstanding, Saint Lucia wishes to reiterate its commitment to combating terrorism as we stand in one accord with other democracy-friendly nations.

In closing, since we, in St. Lucia, are of the view that there is a crucial nexus between peace and prosperity, we remain committed to fmding a way to achieve economic security as well as security from terrorists and other such threats. For we are fIrm adherents to the philosophy espoused by President Roosevelt who speaks to the tragedy of untapped human resources: "No country, however rich, can afford the waste of its human resources. Demoralization caused by vast unemployment is our greatest extravagance. Morally, it is the greatest menace to our social order."

The juxtaposition of great and small states in a global economy demands an inter-dependent awareness of reciprocity and responsibility. All small states ask for is a serious commitment to giving voice and visibility to their concerns above and beyond where the interests of the larger states and multi-national corporations alone are served.

This ought to be the new global imperative where the passion for true peace and democracy, emerges from having an authentic compassion among nations. That will inform the level of trust and cooperation which can be attained in our international bodies and create a climate in which the security of our hemisphere can be managed.

Thank you.