Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley listens attentively as former Executive Director of the World Food Programme, David Beasley, speaks during the “Build the Future: A New Era in Global Cooperation” event at Rockefeller Centre, Midtown Manhattan, New York. (Prime Minister’s Office)Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley listens attentively as former Executive Director of the World Food Programme, David Beasley, speaks during the “Build the Future: A New Era in Global Cooperation” event at Rockefeller Centre, Midtown Manhattan, New York. (Prime Minister’s Office)
Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley has highlighted the critical need for international rules to protect vulnerable nations, warning that failure to do so would result in small states not meeting their development goals.
Ms. Mottley expressed this view on Monday during an address at the “Build the Future: A New Era in Global Cooperation” event at Rockefeller Centre, Midtown Manhattan, New York.
She insisted that unless the barriers to progress were removed, then some countries would not be unable to use their voices to be part of the decision-making process.
The Prime Minister told the gathering: “I pray that those of us who are in charge of the affairs of our populations would find the courage to be able to recognise that there is no moment in history where dialogue and cooperation was not essential to get through problems….
“I come from a small state, and I am painfully aware that in the absence of an international rules-based order, we are no different from children on a playground running from the biggest bully and hoping that we can get through lunchtime without somebody taking our lunch. It’s not going to happen by accident, but I am satisfied that the majority of the world’s population and countries want to see the planet saved and want to see people benefit.”
Ms. Mottley added that people living in vulnerable countries were resilient and lived their lives in hope that the situation would get better, as she encouraged countries to get on with the job of sharing the burden so that all its citizens can benefit.
Author: Julie Carrington
