By OSWALD T. BROWN
WASHINGTON, D.C., Sept. 18, 2023 — Prime Minister Philip E. Davis, who is in New York for the United Nations Summit, today posted this collection of photos on Facebook on Facebook that I had to share with readers of my online publication, BAHAMAS CHRONICLE, which has a huge following among the Bahamian diaspora across the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom as well as in The Bahamas and the wider Caribbean.
The Prime Minister posted the photos with the following narrative:
“Today at #CGI2023 in New York, I felt a deep surge of pride as I introduced The Bahamas Sustainable Investment Programme, a new approach toward climate financing for the Government. Our islands aren’t just a paradise; they’re our home. We’re committed to building resilience against the climate crisis. I commend @Clinton Global Initiative for leading the charge towards a greener, brighter future.”
Meanwhile, Pope Francis, in a videoconference with former President Bill Clinton on Monday to open The Clinton Global Initiative, Pope Francis urged all people to do their part to address the world’s problems, especially climate change and the care of children.
“We are in need of a great and shared assumption of responsibility,” the pontiff said through a translator. “No challenge is too great if we meet it starting with personal conversion and the personal contribution that each of us can make to solve it … No challenge can be overcome alone — not alone, only together, sisters and brothers, children of God.”
The need to “Keep Going” is the theme of this year’s Clinton Global Initiative, or CGI, as Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and Clinton Foundation Vice Chair Chelsea Clinton say they will convene political, business and philanthropic leaders to build on the momentum of the conference’s return last year after a six-year hiatus.
However, in an article posted on the Internet, CNN noted that topics at the two-week summit appear “more numerous, volatile and hard-to-solve than before any other UN General Assembly”, citing : “Russia’s war in Ukraine, lethal floods in Libya, multiple coups on the African continent, North versus South economic funding, violent crisis in Haiti, and climate change, to name a few.”
“Potentially weakening the impact of the event itself is the fact that US President Joe Biden is to be the only leader of the permanent five members of the UN Security Council to attend,” the CNN article said, adding “French President Emmanuel Macron is staying home ready to greet King Charles and work on deteriorating situations from Niger to Sudan. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak too has decided to skip – a rarity for his country – and Russian President Vladimir Putin now risks arrest when he travels. Chinese leader Xi Jinping never comes. “
The CNN article added, “Nevertheless, 140 heads of state and government are scheduled to attend. Six vice presidents, four deputy prime ministers and over 30 ministers of state and chiefs of delegations will also stand at the rostrum to deliver remarks for their nations. Even if you’re not a regular UN observer, consider tuning in to UNTV on Tuesday, when Brazil kicks off the speechmaking followed by the US, Ukraine and Cuba, among others.
“In a first for the annual summit, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky will be attending in person. Previously, he has appeared on video monitors in the General Assembly Hall. He is also expected to speak with Biden in Washington on Thursday.
“Global disputes between the big powers of the UN are likely to hurt any chance of improving relations and making progress on several issues. Swiss Ambassador Pascale Baeriswyl noted a rising rivalry between the United States and China in the chamber. And advocacy group Human Rights Watch urged nations not to get distracted by politics but to keep human rights front and center during the week’s events.”
THE BAHAMAS SHINES AT THE CGI2023. Prime Minister Philip E. Davis spotlights our climate challenges and hurricane resilience and introduces The Bahamas Sustainable Investment Programme at the The Clinton Global Initiative on Monday in New York. Here’s a link to a video of his remarks:
https://www.facebook.com/opmbs/videos/830838868510786
