标签： Antigua and Barbuda

Antigua and Barbuda has firmly countered former US President Donald Trump’s disparaging remarks about the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), emphasizing the organization’s critical role in addressing global challenges. Speaking at the UNGA in New York, Trump dismissed the assembly as ineffective, labeling it a platform for ’empty words’ and controversially calling climate change a ‘con job.’ However, Antigua and Barbuda’s Cabinet Spokesperson, Maurice Merchant, defended the nation’s active participation in the UNGA, particularly under the leadership of Prime Minister Gaston Browne. Merchant highlighted the importance of the UNGA for small island nations like Antigua and Barbuda, especially in advocating for climate action and other pressing issues. He noted that the country’s voice is instrumental in shaping international discourse, citing ‘very successful’ outcomes from bilateral talks. Prime Minister Browne is attending UNGA80 alongside Foreign Minister E.P. Chet Greene, Health Minister Sir Molwyn Joseph, and Ambassador Walton Webson, underscoring the nation’s commitment to global collaboration. The Caribbean nation’s stance reflects its determination to uphold multilateralism and address shared challenges, despite criticisms from global leaders.

Prime Minister Gaston Browne of Antigua and Barbuda has concluded a highly impactful week at the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA80), where he fervently advocated for climate justice, human dignity, reparations, and a more equitable global order. Describing the week as one of the busiest and most significant of his leadership, Browne emphasized the importance of amplifying the voices of marginalized nations, particularly Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

At the heart of Browne’s agenda was the urgent call for climate justice. He highlighted the disproportionate impact of climate change on SIDS, which contribute less than 1% of global greenhouse gas emissions yet face severe consequences such as rising sea levels and extreme weather events. Browne criticized the rhetoric that dismisses climate change as a hoax, stating, ‘Our lived reality tells a starkly different story. It is one of coastal erosion, intensifying hurricanes, and livelihoods under threat.’ He reiterated the need for major polluters to honor their commitments to climate finance, loss and damage compensation, and technology transfer.

Browne also championed the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS (ABAS) and the establishment of the Centre of Excellence for SIDS, which will serve as a global hub for knowledge-sharing, innovation, and policy development to enhance resilience and sustainable development across SIDS.

In addition to climate justice, Browne emerged as a global advocate for mental health, emphasizing it as a human rights issue. Reflecting on his personal experiences with a mother who faced mental health challenges, he announced plans to host a Global Mental Health Summit in 2026 in collaboration with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).

Browne also focused on global health equity, hosting the United Nations Friends of Vision High-Level Meeting, which underscored the importance of eye health in development. He announced that Antigua and Barbuda will host a Global Eye Health Summit in 2026, further positioning the country as a leader in advancing global health equity.

Furthermore, Browne renewed calls for reparatory justice for the enduring impacts of slavery and colonialism, arguing that equitable global development cannot be achieved without addressing historical injustices. He also advocated for the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace, urging respect for the region’s sovereignty and stability.

During UNGA80, Antigua and Barbuda achieved significant diplomatic milestones, including six visa-waiver agreements and the establishment of diplomatic relations with the Republic of Palau and the Republic of the Marshall Islands. These agreements aim to facilitate easier travel, deepen people-to-people links, and expand opportunities in trade, education, and tourism.

Reflecting on his week at UNGA80, Browne stated, ‘This week has been about lifting up the causes that matter most — the survival of small states, the dignity of our people, and the creation of a fairer, more peaceful, and more compassionate world.’

Prime Minister Gaston Browne of Antigua and Barbuda delivered a compelling address at the United Nations General Assembly, emphasizing the critical role of small island states as custodians of the ocean. He called for immediate global action to safeguard marine ecosystems, combat pollution, and expand opportunities within the blue economy. Browne underscored the ocean’s significance to island nations, stating, “For islands like mine, the ocean is not scenery—it is sustenance, it is survival, it is our future.” He highlighted the alarming degradation of marine environments, including coral reef bleaching, mangrove loss, plastic pollution, and illegal fishing, which threaten the livelihoods of coastal communities. Browne outlined a four-point action plan, urging enhanced support for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) to secure maritime boundaries, the adoption of a robust global plastics treaty, increased financing for carbon-sequestering coastal ecosystems, and the provision of satellite monitoring to protect Exclusive Economic Zones. Additionally, he advocated for a moratorium on seabed mining until independent scientific research confirms its safety, warning against irreversible damage to the ocean floor. Browne invited international partners to collaborate on ocean stewardship, balancing conservation with sustainable economic growth for island nations.

In a compelling address at the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, Prime Minister Gaston Browne of Antigua and Barbuda called for a renewed commitment to the principles of the UN Charter, emphasizing the urgent need for global action on climate change, unsustainable debt, and rising inequalities. Representing a small island nation on the frontlines of the climate crisis, Browne warned that the retreat from multilateralism and the erosion of human rights mark a critical juncture for humanity. He urged the international community to prioritize compassion, solidarity, and justice in addressing these pressing challenges. On climate action, Browne proposed a just energy transition, including a phased reduction of fossil fuels, a fair carbon levy on major emitters, and enhanced access to climate finance for vulnerable nations. He also reiterated Antigua and Barbuda’s support for the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index (MVI) and climate-resilient debt clauses. Browne highlighted ocean conservation priorities, such as combating illegal fishing and plastic pollution, and reaffirmed his nation’s stance against seabed mining until scientific evidence confirms its safety. Addressing global peace and security, he condemned violence in Gaza, called for a two-state solution, and advocated for diplomatic resolutions in Ukraine and Haiti. Browne also emphasized the importance of mental health and non-communicable diseases in global development, urging the UN to adopt a resolution recognizing mental health as a fundamental component of sustainable development. Concluding his speech, Browne stressed the need for collective accountability to all nations and future generations, asserting that true progress can only be achieved through unity and shared responsibility.