00:00He's here and let's listen now. Here's his speech.
00:12Mr. President, the self-determination of a people is sacrosanct.
00:20It is because of the exercise of that right to self-determination
00:26that each nation enjoys the privilege of sitting in this hall.
00:33Our nations exist by the will of our people,
00:38by virtue of their right to determine their political status
00:44and pursue their economic, cultural and social development.
00:51To borrow words from Nelson Mandela,
00:56our people are the real makers of history.
01:01Their participation in every decision about the future
01:07is the only guarantee of true democracy and freedom.
01:12If we look at the challenges that our people confront today,
01:16we must ask whether that sacrosanct principle of self-determination is in fact secure.
01:27Belize is a member of the Alliance of Small Island States, EOSIS,
01:34one of 39 countries that have been on the front lines of the climate crisis.
01:41The genesis of this crisis lies with the industrialized nations.
01:48Its perpetuation and acceleration rests with the wider membership of the Group of 20.
01:57Currently, the G20 accounts for some 80% of global emissions.
02:04EOSIS members contribute less than 1% of global emissions.
02:13This is the tale of two worlds, but we only have one planet to share.
02:21The extent to which G20 economies are advancing
02:27and contributing to global economic output and world trade
02:31is impressive and promising for their people.
02:36It is important that their growth should be calibrated to a world
02:41where SIDS also have a secure future.
02:45This is still possible, but it is urgent.
02:50As SIDS, our people's livelihoods have long depended on traditional sectors
02:56such as agriculture, fisheries, and tourism, which are climate sensitive.
03:04Opportunities for diversification have been limited given our size, population, and location.
03:14Climate change is forcing us to break with tradition
03:19and to transition despite the limited options to do so.
03:23Each step forward is met with yet another hurdle to overcome.
03:29And with increasing probability, we face the likelihood of setbacks
03:35as climate change impacts worsen.
03:38The costs are multiplying, fiscal space is shrinking,
03:43and the opportunities to equitably share in global prosperity are diminishing.
03:50The right of SIDS to define their own future must be protected and secured.
03:58The severe impacts of sea level rise have irreversible consequences for SIDS.
04:06Our people have gone beyond their duty to protect and preserve our environment,
04:13yet some are being forced to relocate from their homelands.
04:18To this, we reiterate that no matter the physical changes that climate change may bring to our territory,
04:27our sovereignty and our right to self-determination remain intact.
04:34Mr. President, the perpetual suffering of a people can never just be a matter of national concern.
04:42The United Nations rose up from the ashes of war to restore faith in fundamental human rights,
04:52in the dignity and worth of the human person,
04:56in the equal rights of men and women, and of nations large or small,
05:03and to establish conditions under which justice and respect for human rights
05:09under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties
05:16and other sources of international law can be maintained,
05:21and to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom.
05:29All members of the United Nations have a duty to give effect to these words.
05:36Conflicts should not be allowed to fester.
05:40The war in Ukraine is now two years running, and we are concerned that the end is still not near.
05:50Haiti has seized our attention once again,
05:55for Belize's international response must be enduring for long-lasting peace and security of our sister country.
06:07We are working through the Caribbean community to reinforce and strengthen Haiti,
06:14and we commend the Haitian people in their resolve to define their own pathway forward.
06:21We are pleased to be contributing personnel to the multinational security support mission.
06:31Belize is extremely worried that up to now,
06:36the international community has not fully delivered on its commitments for the MSS,
06:43nor the UN Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan for Haiti.
06:48This jeopardizes all the efforts towards establishing political stability,
06:56but more than that, puts the future of Haiti at substantial risk.
07:03Mr. President, Cuba should no longer be subject to an unjust and illegal economic embargo imposed by the United States.
07:17It is imperative that Cuba be removed from the list of state sponsors of terrorism.
07:26This arbitrary and unilateral designation has created an unnecessary barrier to global cooperation,
07:36constructive engagement, and the promotion of peace and stability in our region.
07:45Mr. President, Belize rejects the continued denial of self-determination of the Palestinian people
07:56and calls for the eradication of the system of colonial domination and apartheid being imposed upon them.
08:06As Belize stated to the International Court of Justice in the recent advisory opinion,
08:14Israel cannot be permitted to continue flouting one of the most fundamental principles of international law with impunity.
08:27Impunity breeds inhumanity.
08:31Just two weeks ago, this Assembly approved a resolution proposed by Palestine
08:40affirming the ICJ's advisory opinion and called on members to act
08:48to reinforce the Palestinian people's right to self-determination.
08:54The war, the oppression, and the inhumanity must end.
09:01Mr. President, Taiwan is a nation that espouses democracy, development, and innovation.
09:12The challenges we are tackling as an international community
09:17requires Taiwan's full inclusion and participation in the international system.
09:26Belize calls for this to be done immediately.
09:31The people of Western Sahara should be granted their long overdue referendum to decide their own future.
09:40Belize continues its repeated call for the United Nations and the international community
09:48to take the necessary steps to allow the Sahrawi people to finally exercise their right to self-determination.
10:00Mr. President, I submit to you and this Assembly
10:05that the foundation of leaving no one behind
10:10requires that we actively promote and protect the right of self-determination
10:17in its most basic form, in the context of peace and security.
10:24Now we must also do so in the context of sustainable development.
10:30We have adopted a rescue plan to steer the SDGs back on course.
10:38We have a pact for the future.
10:41We must use every opportunity to put in place the systems and financing
10:48necessary to turbocharge our sustainable development and climate goals.
10:55In this effort, we must ensure equal opportunity for all to share in global prosperity.
11:04We must raise collective ambition and invest in all our people to empower them to rise.
11:14Mr. President, the Declaration on Sea Level Rise and Statehood
11:18adopted by the leaders of the Alliance of Small Island States on 23 September
11:26affirms that the sovereignty or statehood of small island developing states
11:33cannot be challenged under any circumstances of climate change-related sea level rise.
11:40We invite all UN member states to support the implementation of this declaration
11:48and to use it as the basis of international cooperation.
11:54To further guarantee that SIDS will be spared the gravest climate threats,
12:01global warming must be limited to well below 1.5 degrees Celsius.
12:07Belize urges the G20 to enhance their emission reduction targets
12:15to achieve this temperature limit.
12:19For SIDS, adaptation is imperative,
12:24and loss and damage associated with climate change is inevitable.
12:30The new climate finance goal to be decided in Baku
12:35must contain specific recommendations for minimum allocation to SIDS
12:42in relation to grant-based and concessional finance
12:47for adaptation and grants for loss and damage.
12:52It must also give effect to the provisions of the Paris Agreement,
12:56which require enhanced access for SIDS and LDCs to climate finance.
13:04Finally, it must support the urgent capitalization of the Fund
13:10for responding to loss and damage.
13:14Mr. President, with the adoption of the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS,
13:20the UN must now ensure its implementation.
13:25SIDS must be at the table
13:28in global economic and international financial institutions.
13:34The Multidimensional Vulnerability Index
13:38should be incorporated into existing practices and policies
13:44for debt sustainability and development support
13:48to expand SIDS access to effective development finance.
13:55Mr. President, Belize is moving ahead.
14:00We are on a transformative development trajectory.
14:06We have dramatically improved our credit profile
14:10through the Belize Blue Bond Project,
14:13a debt-for-marine conservation swap
14:17We are reforming and modernizing
14:20our legislative and policy frameworks for investments
14:25and activating our orange and blue economies,
14:29including beyond our national jurisdiction.
14:33In partnership with the United States of America,
14:37we have signed a five-year U.S. $125 million grant agreement
14:44with the Millennium Challenge Corporation,
14:47intended to help reduce poverty in Belize
14:51by addressing the country's energy and education sectors.
14:57We are making targeted investments
15:00to ensure that every child has access to quality education and opportunities.
15:07One key example is the Belize Education Upliftment Project,
15:12Together We Rise,
15:13which provides half of Belizean secondary school students
15:18with the resources they need to succeed,
15:22including free tuition, uniforms, school supplies, and healthy meals.
15:28Belize has extended the compulsory school age to 16 years
15:34to improve school retention rates
15:37and increase the likelihood of transitioning to higher education.
15:42We are working tirelessly to expand vocational training,
15:48digital access, and life skills development,
15:52ensuring that young people are prepared for the evolving job market
15:59and capable of driving innovation in sectors such as agriculture,
16:05climate change, and technology.
16:08We are aggressively closing the digital divide
16:12as technology holds the promise of progress.
16:16But we depend on multilateral efforts
16:19to ensure that all nations, regardless of size or wealth,
16:24have the infrastructure and capacity to participate in the digital economy.
16:31Education and capacity building alone are not enough.
16:37Addressing inequalities and fostering inclusion
16:42are equally critical to achieving lasting change.
16:47The achievement of gender equality
16:50and the empowerment of women and girls is central to this effort.
16:55Belize has made important progress in this area,
16:58marked by the recent launch of its revised National Gender Policy 2024-2030,
17:07which aims to end discrimination and violence against women
17:13while promoting their full participation in all aspects of society,
17:19social, economic, and political.
17:23Belize continues its work
17:26to ensure that every Belizean has access
17:30to high-quality, affordable, and efficient health care services.
17:36By January 2025, we will achieve full national health insurance coverage.
17:44We are also strengthening our mental health support systems
17:49with the goal of improving and expanding access to quality care
17:55addressing the stigma surrounding mental health
18:00and enhancing outreach programs, particularly in rural and underserved areas.
18:09Mr. President, Belize is committed to the final settlement
18:15of Guatemala's territorial, insular, and maritime claim.
18:20We welcome Guatemala's stated commitment
18:25to respecting and abiding by the ruling of the International Court of Justice.
18:33At the political level, we are actively engaged with Guatemala
18:38to strengthen our bilateral relationship.
18:42A definitive solution will bring greater opportunities
18:47for both of our nations in the areas of trade, investment, and cooperation.
18:55Mr. President, Belize reaffirms its commitment to the United Nations
19:03as the central platform for coordinated global action.
19:09But its decision-making processes need to be more inclusive,
19:15more responsive, and representative.
19:21Its institutions cannot be held back by the world as it was 80 years ago.
19:30Reform is urgent and necessary to reflect the world as it is.
19:38Mr. President, the youth of today have given us a clear, undeniable mandate.
19:48They demand action, accountability, and a future where they are heard, seen, and respected.
19:59We ignore them at our own peril.
20:03We must not fail them.
20:05It is our responsibility to heed their calls for change.
20:12We must deliver on our commitments
20:16and build a world that present and future generations deserve.
20:22I thank you.
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