The Parliament Building was lit “UN Blue” recently to observe the 78th Anniversary of the United Nations (UN).

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Kerrie Symmonds, who was in attendance, pointed out that the UN is one of Barbados’ most valued partnerships, and it is on this date every year that Barbados joins the rest of the Caribbean Community in celebrating UN Day. 

He said the day serves as a reminder and a renewal of the commitment made on October 24, 1945, “to unstintingly pursue the ideal of international peace and security”.

Minister Symmonds noted that since Barbados joined the UN on December 9, 1966, it has remained steadfast in its commitment to upholding the principles underpinning the United Nations Charter.  

He thanked the UN for its contribution to the island’s development over the years and expressed the hope that the partnership would continue for generations to come.

“Barbados acknowledges the indelible contribution made by the UN system towards advancing the interests of all the global public goods for the small island developing states (SIDS)…. Multilateralism is an important bulwark in the execution of our foreign policy, both in terms of the pursuit of sustainable development and in terms of the safeguarding of our sovereignty,” the Foreign Affairs Minister stated.

Despite the positives achieved over the years through multilateralism cooperation, Minister Symmonds has called for a reform of some UN systems, in particular its Security Council.  

He cited the Israel/Palestine conflict in which the Security Council Resolution called for a ceasefire on humanitarian grounds and that Humanitarian Resolution was defeated by a single country’s use of its veto power.

“The Council today is seemingly powerless and unjust, dominated by unresponsive and unrepresentative powers who seem inclined to abuse their dominant position instead of safeguarding global peace. Any discussion on reform must therefore consider the effectiveness and legitimacy of the UN Security Council and the need to update both its archaic composition and its imbalanced decision-making rules, so as to better reflect the world in which we all live today,” Minister Symmonds stressed.

UN Resident Coordinator for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean States, Didier Trebucq, noted that the world had changed dramatically since the UN was founded in 1945, and to that end, the UN has changed too, but its charter and values remain as important today as when it was first conceived. 

Mr. Trebucq stated: “We need to work together to make sure that it (UN) also better reflects today’s world as the largest global platform for countries to come together to discuss the differences but also to find common ground. 

“So, it is in this context that SIDS, like Barbados, have a key critical platform in the UN to advocate for the needs and priorities and work with other countries to develop shared solutions for a fairer world and a protected climate.  And I have to say that the Caribbean has been leading in proposing new solutions.”

The UN Resident Coordinator noted that the lighting of Parliament in “UN Blue” signals a beacon of hope throughout the island and the region, that the UN is committed to promoting its mission of peace, human rights, and sustainable development everywhere and that multilateralism remains the best hope for shared global solutions. 

In addition to the flicking of the switch to light up Parliament “UN Blue”, the evening also included a toast and cake cutting element, as well as entertainment by Dr. Stedson ‘Red Plastic Bag’ Wiltshire and steel pannist Judah Goddard. (PR/GIS)