Prime Minister Gaston Browne is in New York where he will attend a series of
engagements primarily focused on actualising the progress made on the
Multidimensional Vulnerability Index (MVI).
Prime Minister Browne, together with former Prime Minister of Norway, Erna
Solberg, are Co-Chairs of the United Nations High-Level Panel on the MVI, which
seeks to introduce a more accurate reflection of the needs of countries whose
vulnerabilities increase their exposure to external shocks.
Under the current measurements, like a country’s Gross National Income (GNI),
vulnerable states are limited in the type of concessionary financing they can access,
to recover from major disasters.
The MVI seeks to change this by developing an inclusive approach that not only
considers a country’s fiscal state but its ability to respond to major climatic events
like disastrous hurricanes or global economic shocks.
During his visit, PM Browne as Co-Chair of the HLP will lead discussions at a
two-day retreat at the United Nations Headquarters with economists, policymakers,
and leaders of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) who have an abiding interest
in bringing the MVI to reality.
The prime minister is also scheduled to hold bilateral discussions with UN
Secretary-General, His Excellency António Guterres. He will be joined in those
discussions by Antigua and Barbuda’s Permanent Representative to the United
Nations, His Excellency Walton Webson, and Deputy Permanent Representative
Tumasie Blair.
Prime Minister Browne and Secretary-General Guterres will dialogue on the
progress of work so far on the MVI and the Fourth SIDS Conference that will be
held in Antigua and Barbuda in 2024. Prime Minister Browne is also expected to
make use of the opportunity to discuss the challenges arising from the economic
fallout that gripped Antigua and Barbuda and other Small Island Developing States
as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Also on the Prime Minister’s itinerary of meetings are bilateral discussions with
Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations, His Excellency Mr. Gilad Erdan, and
the Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the United Nations Her
Excellency Dame Barbara Woodward.
Prime Minister Browne returns to the state on Friday. Attorney General and
Minister for Legal Affairs, Steadroy Benjamin will assume the role of Acting
Prime Minister.
