By Caribbean News Global contributor
CASTRIES, St Lucia – Delivering his inaugural statement via a virtual set to the United Nations General Assembly General (UNGA76) on Saturday, prime minister of Saint Lucia, Philip J Pierre, said: “We continue to plead the case to advance their cause to be accepted as a legitimate participant in the global decision-making process.”
Saint Lucia, alongside member states of the 15 countries that have official diplomatic ties with Taiwan, voiced their support at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA76), for Taiwan’s inclusion in the United Nations, in a global alliance to advance core values such as freedom, democracy, human rights, trade issues, the rule of law, and trade relations as sovereign states.
Prime minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Ralph Gonsalves, said it is “high time” the UN’s exclusion of Taiwan comes to an end. “Surely, the world will benefit from Taiwan’s inclusion in global bodies such as the World Health Assembly, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the International Civil Aviation Organization, and INTERPOL.”
Haiti’s acting prime minister Ariel Henry invited member states to “consider the aspirations of the Republic of China, Taiwan,” which “can play a non-negligible role” in UN.
John Briceño, Belize’s prime minister, called for Taiwan’s inclusion in the United Nations and its specialized agencies, which will not only further enhance global cooperation and partnership, but also manifest the United Nation’s enshrined principle of universality.”
Saint Kitts and Nevis prime minister Timothy Harris renewed his country’s call for Taiwan’s inclusion in the UN community: “Taiwan has demonstrated that it can be a true partner in health, and we have seen its exemplary response to the pandemic firsthand in Saint Kitts and Nevis and other parts of the world,” Harris added. “My country looks forward to Taiwan being included in the U.N. system and its meetings, mechanisms, and activities.”
Taiwan, a diplomatic ally of Saint Lucia from 2007 is advancing cooperation in agriculture, culture, economy, education, health care, infrastructure, trade and global partnerships in the holistic development of the island.
Taiwan’s allies and US – Taiwan relations continue to support global leadership, for their right to democracy and self-determination, coordinating a response to the threat of authoritarian countries, on global security, human rights and trade issues.
