Minister for Foreign Affairs, E.P. Chet Greene, delivered a compelling statement during the Second World Summit for Social Development held in Doha, Qatar, where he underscored Antigua and Barbuda’s steadfast commitment to inclusive growth, climate resilience, and the protection of human dignity.
In a message that resonated strongly with global leaders and development partners, Minister Greene called for a renewed era of global solidarity — one that recognizes the shared responsibilities of all nations in addressing poverty, inequality, and the climate crisis. His intervention drew praise from counterparts for its clarity of purpose and moral conviction, reaffirming Antigua and Barbuda’s leadership among Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
Minister Greene highlighted that, despite strong national initiatives and progressive social policies, “national action, however robust, cannot withstand global headwinds alone.” He emphasized that the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS (ABAS), which emerged from the Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States, presents a framework for a new global partnership rooted not in charity, but in justice.
“We demand that developed nations honour their Official Development Assistance pledges as a moral imperative, not as an act of benevolence,” he declared.
“We insist that access to finance be based on our multidimensional vulnerability, not an outdated GDP metric.”
Calling for the revitalization of SDG 17 — the goal of global partnerships — Minister Greene urged the international community to reignite the promise of Copenhagen by placing people once again at the centre of development. His statement culminated in a powerful appeal for global unity and compassion:
“Let us vow, here in Doha, that no child’s potential will be stunted by hunger; that no mother’s life will be lost for want of care; and that no island nation will be sacrificed to the rising seas of global inaction.”
Minister Greene reaffirmed Antigua and Barbuda’s determination to translate resilience from concept to action, noting that social development must remain the foundation for peace, prosperity, and stability.
Minister Greene was accompanied by Ambassador Walton Webson, Permanent Representative of Antigua and Barbuda to the United Nations, and Ambassador Theon Ali, Ambassador to the State of Qatar.
