PORT OF SPAIN: SEPTEMBER 22, 2016
Senator the Honourable Dennis Moses, Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs, attended on September 20, 2016, the opening of the 71st General Debate of the United Nations General Assembly. The theme of this year’s General Assembly is “The Sustainable Development Goals: A Universal Push to Transform Our World.”
The opening session of the General Debate was preceded by a Welcome Reception for Heads of Delegation by United Nations Secretary General, Mr. Ban Ki-moon. The Honourable Minister had an opportunity to meet and interact with Heads of State and Government as well as Ministerial counterparts during this event.
The General Assembly witnessed the presence of Heads of State and Government, Ministers and other high senior officials of Member States. The President of Brazil was the first speaker to address the General Assembly, followed by other world leaders such as the President of Chad, the President of France, the President of Guyana and the President of the United States of America, who delivered his final statement to the General Assembly as that country's President.
United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, in his final address to the General Assembly in his capacity as Secretary General, set the tone for the debate by calling on world leaders to recognise that the important positions they hold are a reflection of the trust the people have in them. He called on world leaders to "serve" their people.
The Secretary-General also used the opportunity to raise some of the global issues affecting the international community such as the crisis in Syria, the global refugee and migrant crisis and efforts to address the global refugee and migrant crisis.
Minister Moses met with Senator the Honourable Kamina Johnson Smith, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Jamaica and then with His Excellency Mikheil Janelidze, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia on September 19, 2016.
Minister Moses also attended the Annual Meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative which was held on September 19, 2016. The theme focused on "Partnering for Global Prosperity", where Heads of State and Government and other world leaders were provided a platform to discuss the best ways to expand opportunities, improve livelihoods and promote environmental sustainability in communities around the world.
The Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs joined other Heads of Delegation of CARICOM Member States in a meeting on September 19, 2016 which was convened by US Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs, Ambassador Thomas A. Shannon and Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs, Ambassador Mari Carmen Aponte, where a range of issues on matters of mutual interest were discussed.
On September 20, 2016 Minister Moses attended the Secretary General's Luncheon for Heads of Delegation. Later that evening the Minister attended an event hosted by His Excellency Barack Obama, President of the United States of America and Mrs. Obama.
Senator the Honourable Dennis Moses is expected to hold bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Chile, Peru, Ghana, Turkey, Singapore, Australia and the United Arab Emirates during the course of the week. He is also expected to meet with other high level officials of the US State Department.
Minister Moses also met with staff at the Office of the Consulate General of Trinidad and Tobago in New York to discuss the delivery of immigration services and longstanding human resources management issues including the equitable treatment of staff members.
Ministry of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs
View official document with photos - UNGA Participation in the 71st Regular Session.pdf
