Dominica on Thursday, Sept. 26, reiterated its solidarity with the people of Haiti, insisting, like its Caribbean Community (CARICOM) counterparts, that the situation in the French-speaking Caribbean country “in no way nullifies the entitlement of its people to the recognition of their sacred sovereignty and their right to be central in the search for a fair and durable peace.”
“The Government of Dominica remains convinced that our sister CARICOM State, Haiti, faces major challenges today in part because of the glorious contribution Haiti made to the quest for justice and freedom in our region and the world,” said Dominica President Sylvanie Burton in addressing the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly Debate.
“Indeed, the current complexion of this august body would have been unimaginable without the heroic struggles of the Haitians,” she said. “As such, the crisis in Haiti is much more than a Caribbean crisis, and its solution requires a united response and the support of the United Nations to resolve.”
Burton said Dominica “unreservedly supports the position of CARICOM on the situation in Haiti, a position that rightly calls for a Haitian-led and owned transition process, to bring about systematic changes for the benefit of the Haitian people.
“Let us provide them with all of the support that they need,” she urged. “Nothing less is demanded of us.”
Burton said Dominica is also “keen to underscore” Cuba’s “commitment to advocating for unity, justice, peace and the sustainable human development they foster.”
In this regard, she said Dominica continues to urge that “the long-running, unjust, and illegal economic embargo against the people of Cuba be revoked.
“Maintaining this embargo is harmful, not only to the long-suffering people of Cuba, but also to the image and profile of its sponsors,” the Dominica President said. “Cuba, like every other country, has a right to self-determination. Dominica continues to stand in solidarity with Cuba.”
Burton said the trade and economic embargo imposed against Cuba “continues to be of great concern to us in the Caribbean.
“Its lifting grows increasingly urgent,” she said. “Therefore, the Commonwealth of Dominica once again joins its voice, with the voices of the overwhelming majority of members of this global organization, to call for the immediate lifting of trade restrictions and export bans imposed on the good people of Cuba.
“They are unjustified! They are unjustifiable! They belong to a bygone era. They should cease to exist. They fall, in our view, within the grand narrative of yet another Caribbean people’s struggle for liberation,” Burton added. “It is for these reasons that the Government of Dominica strongly urges a radical reconsideration of these actions.”
Burton said Dominica’s steadfast advocacy for respect for the United Nations norms of sovereignty and non-interference impels it, as well, to urge that the right of the Government and people of Venezuela to resolve internal challenges without outside interference be respected, renewing its condemnation of the imposition of sanctions on Venezuela.
“The resulting hardship forced upon the people of Venezuela needs an immediate and complete end,” she urged.
At the same time, Burton said Dominican calls for “restraint and strict adherence to the rule of law” regarding the presence of US military assets in the blue waters of the Caribbean Sea.
“The solution to conflict and challenges should never be aggression and war,” she said, urging all diplomatic efforts to be pursued to respect the sovereignty of states, preserve the dignity of human life, and promote peace.
As the UN celebrates its 80th year under the theme “80 years and more for Peace, Development and Human Rights,” Burton said, “Let it not be mere words.
“Let it instead be a call for respect and adherence to a rules-based order that applies to all nations equally, weak and strong, not just when it is convenient to the most powerful,” she said, stating that the UN arose out of the ashes of a world torn by devastating wars.
“Let us not return to those dark days, but instead be guided by law, diplomacy and shared values,” the Dominica President added. “Let us reform the system where small and developing nations have a real seat at the table – that we may have the opportunity to influence decisions that shape global climate policy, security, and economic well-being for all.
“Let it be where we build solidarity and cooperation, and where power is exercised with humility, compassion, and
restraint,” she continued. “Let the history books say that in this Chamber, in our time, we chose a better path.”
