Government officials from Antigua and Barbuda and United Nations representatives have concluded a comprehensive assessment of the UN Country Implementation Plan (CIP) for 2025 while establishing strategic priorities for the 2026 cycle. The high-level consultation, orchestrated by the UN Country Team in St. John’s, assembled delegates from pivotal ministries encompassing foreign affairs, finance, environmental protection, and information technology, alongside representatives from non-governmental organizations.
Foreign Affairs Minister E.P. Chet Greene, presiding over the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), emphasized the plan’s vital importance for small island developing nations. He characterized the CIP as an essential mechanism that transforms national objectives into concrete initiatives while synchronizing domestic priorities with the 2030 Agenda, the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for Small Island Developing States (ABAS), and the nation’s Medium-Term Development Strategy.
Permanent Secretary and Ambassador Dr. Clarence Pilgrim highlighted that the Multi-Country Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework spanning 2022–2026 demonstrates the UN’s sustained commitment to Antigua and Barbuda. He elaborated that this framework enables the nation to progress toward economic stability, social equity, and climate change adaptation measures.
UN Resident Coordinator for the Eastern Caribbean, Simon Springett, recognized that fiscal limitations during the previous year had impacted execution in certain sectors but reiterated the UN’s unwavering dedication to assisting Antigua and Barbuda and fellow member states. The proceedings, directed by Head of the UN Country Office Andrea Andrew, focused extensively on evaluating 2025’s outcomes and formulating subsequent actions for the 2026 implementation phase.