annually threatened byhurricanes fullyunders\.:"wd thesenseofhelpless shock thismagnitude.A/40/PV.15 72 (Mr.Herbert, SaintChristopher andNevis) Ishouldtherefore liketotakethisopportunity onbehalfofthedelegation Imustalsohastentopaytribute toandvoicefullappreciation ofthe Ishouldlikeatthisstagetoextendthesympathy andcondolences ofthe Ournationiscomprised oftheislandsofSaintChriscopher andNevis ralso *Mr.Mosel~y (Barbados), Vice-President, tooktheChair.Inthiscontext, thepeopleofSaintChristopher andNevisareproudoftheirinestimable importance ofsessions suchasthisonetotherealization and respect forth~dignity ofpeoples andthesovereignty ofStates, however small. Mexicoontheirrecenttragicexperiences. Wewholiveinanareawhichispreservation ofinternational peace~functional co-operation, economic security, FrenchandDutchSt.Maarten andtheBritish colonies ofAnguilla andMontserrat.*ofPuertoRico,neartheUnitedStatesandtheBritish VirginIslands, neartheswiftly andbrilliantly spearheaded ourtransition fromcolonial dependence to experienced bypersons confronted withthedevastation ofanatural disaster ofemergence fromcolonialism intothebrotherhood oftheUnitedNations. Ibring Dutchcolonies ofSt.Eustatius andSaba,theFrenchislandofSt.Bartholomew,fondgreetings fromourPrimeMinister, Dr.Kennedy Alphonse Simmonds, whohasexpressed toyou,Sir,andtoyourcountry asyoucontinue tosuperintend andofSaintChristopher andNevistoaddmycongratulations tothosehitherto administer theseproceedings withyourusualconsummate skillandinnatedexterity.SK/17 calledSt.KittsandNevis,andwearelocated intheCaribbean, tothesouth-eastGovernment ofSaintChristopher andNevistotheGovernment andthepeopleof , • ~ I ... ~-',", -.~..,......i;, •'. 4-- :':::,'",',:,:.,: .',. l.j. ..,....SK/l7 A/40/PV.l5 73 (Mr.Herbert vSaintChristophet and'Nevis) It!sperhaps becauseofthisgeographic situation thatourpeoplearequick \:0understand thesignificance ofamultilateral approach toissues. Weinherited thecolonial problems ofthemonoculture ofsugar,butdespite limitations ofsize,economic vulnerability andthevagaries ofweather, we/have madesignificant developmental strides duringourfirsttwoyearsofindependence • • Indeed, wehaveestablished thebasisforeconomic diversification andabetterway 01:lifeforallourpeople. with:t,r.,daysofourbirthasafreenation, wegainedadmission tothisbody, andthissignifies ourrecognition ofthefactthatinanageofconsiderable turmoil, theunitedNations withitsbodyofcollaborating MemberStatescontinues toplayaleading roleinthepursuit andretention ofamorepeaceful, more organized andmorecontented world. Ofparticular significance tousist~equestion ofthemultilateral approach tothesecurity ofsmall Stat~sandtheestablishment oforderintheexploitation oftheresources ofthesea. Wewhobeliev~ inpeacemustnotbedominated bythosewhobelieve inforce. Wewhoarecommitted totheloftyidealsofCARICOM, theCaribbean Community, must neverallowanyofourmemberStatestobemanipulated anddestabilized byexternal pressures. Thisapplies tothepolitical pressure ofpowerpolitics, theeconomic munoeuvr·es ofindustrialized society ortheconspiracy ofthosewhowoulddestroy ourpopulation bytrafficking in.\llegal drugs. WehavesignedtheLawoftheSeaConvention. Asanationofislands, our peoplelookto~hesurrounding seasintheirefforttoachieve acomfortable existence. Wehavetoensurethatnoonebeallowed todeplete theresources of ourmaritime economic zone. Wehavetobeabletodevelop fullyandpeacefully the economic utilization ofthesea-bed andtheresources oftheseasabove.twifiislandState,andweaddressed alltheissuesoffundamental rightsand freedoms, ensuring therightsofall,including ourwomenandchildren.OurCOD$titution faithfully follows thetenetsoftheUniversal Declaration of Human Ri~hts.Itwascreated specifically tosuitourparticular situation asa(Mr.Herbert, SaintChristopher andNevis)A/40/PV.15 74...75SK/17 ;'"'.,'"'"~~. ~ 'o..,. : :1. ,-.,:~""...,:....'..--" " . .. •'I " .:~.,......:... ~.:t~1-'~M4" ,~.;;;. ~•"',' '""..'-" . • • , ~. •~JI \,.'. . .---------------------- EMS/IS A/40/PV.15 76 (Mr.Herbert, SaintChristopher andNevis) Howover, constitutional postulations alonecannotensurethec~eatiQn ofa justsociety. TheGovernment andthepeopleofSaintChristopher andNevis continue tohaveathomeapeace,justice andhumanrightsrecordwhich demonstrates thattheyfullyandtrulyidentify withandliveuptothepurposes andprinciples oftheCharter o~theunitedNations. Wehavetakenmanymixtures ofraceandmadethemoneiwehaveearnedtheclassification ofthefreestnation onearth. Withthissettingathome,itiswithrevulsion andshockthatwefacethe distasteful anddespicable situation inSouthAfrica. OurPrimeMinister has