PRIME Minister Mr Samuel Hinds has lauded the United Nations (UN) as an organisation which symbolises the commitment of nations to world peace and security and to the development of the world’s peoples, adding that the world is a better place because of the United Nations. 

The prime minister made these remarks on Tuesday evening at a reception hosted by UN Resident Co-ordinator, Ms. Khadija Musa and the UN family in Guyana to celebrate the UN’s 69th anniversary and host the Millennium Development

Goals (MDGs) Champions Awards Ceremony. The venue was the Georgetown Club on Camp Street.
Mr. Hinds said that there is cause to be justly proud of the accomplishments of the UN through the years, as we stand at the threshold of the 70th year since its founding. The United Nations, he acknowledged, has served to not only keep generations from the scourge of war, but more importantly, promoted and pursued the development of humankind.
He said that the government of Guyana is supportive of a United Nations that promotes international peace, security and a development agenda that benefits all. In this regard, he added, Guyana is committed to making the UN a democratic, dynamic body that can respond effectively to the needs of its member states.
He however noted that, while we applaud the advances made, we must note that the world is yet to be freed from the many marathons that threaten the well-being of mankind: conflicts, injustice within and among nations, inequity and certain diseases prevail, affecting human development and stymieing the battle against poverty, especially within developing countries.
And commenting on the MDGs, he admitted that those goals have not been universally achieved, and cautioned that more still needs to be done. “And even as we analyze the reasons,” he said, “we are looking towards other mechanisms beyond 2015, through the articulation of a comprehensive post -2015 development agenda.”
He touched on the significant falling short of support from developed countries, as envisioned by MDG 8, thereby affecting the overall achievement of the MDGs, and said that as we collectively pursue a development agenda ,we must be cognizant of the fact that the level of commitment by all is imperative for progress.
The prime minister however, reported that Guyana has made significant strides in the achievement of the MDGs at the national level with the support of key United Nations agencies. These agencies, including the UNDP, the UNFPA, UNICEF, UNESCO, FAO, PAHO/WHO, have, over the decades, proved critical for national development efforts and continued to render invaluable assistance and support to Guyana in this regard.
He cautioned, that the prevailing situation in the world requires greater concentration of policies by all states to effectively address their common problems. He gave as an example, the raging Ebola virus in West Africa with a potential to eradicate the progress made in past decades with respect to social and economic gains of the African continent and farther afield.
“We therefore call on the international community to effectively and responsibly work towards containing the spread of the Ebola virus,” the prime minister declared. He also cited the effects of climate change as another threat to the development of peace and security, and which can wreak havoc in the further development of mankind.
However, Guyana has already become known in these parts for adaptation and mitigation by adopting and instituting its Low Carbon Development Strategy, he said.
In the face of ensuing challenges, Mr. Hinds conceded that there is need for a renewed mindset by the international community as we pursue better sustainable management of the world’s biodiversity.
The prime minister expressed gratitude to the resident coordinator and all the UN agencies for their support to Guyana.
Meanwhile, UN Resident Coordinator, Ms. Khadija Musa, eminently proud of the United Nations now turned 69, said that the UN has been very special throughout the years. Alluding to the mandate of the global body, she said it was created for several reasons, namely: keeping generations from war; protecting Human Rights; establishing conditions for genders; promotion of social progress and better understanding of life for all.

Affirming that these fundamental objectives remain as critical today as they were 69 years ago, Ms. Musa ever mindful of the presence of diseases such as Ebola and developments such as; ISIS, Iraq, poverty (which continues to a certain extent); discrimination and climate change, affirmed, “The United Nations is needed more than ever at this time of multiple crises. These are giving a heavy toll to the mandate that the UN was created for.”
She admitted that the UN has been the subject of much debate, stating. “We have received equal doses of praises and criticism,” but expressed confidence that “As the world’s only true, universal institution, the UN offers the best, if not the only forum to galvanize global action to meet the challenges ahead.”
To this end, she quoted former UN Secretary General Dag Hammarskjold as saying, “The UN was not created to take humanity to heaven, but save it from hell,” and current UN Secretary General, Ban Ki moon, as saying that : “The global problems we face today can never be resolved by one country acting alone.”
From complete prevention and humanitarian assistance to peace -keeping and peace- building, the UN works on a proud range of fundamental issues, Musa said.
She said, here in Guyana, the United Nations has been working since 1960, to support the government and people of Guyana to improve nutrition security; promote dialogue and improve governance; improve education planning at all levels; support health services that provide quality guidance and strategic support; promote sexual and productive health strategy and fight HIV/AIDS.
Meanwhile, last year during the UN celebration, the organisation launched the MDG Championship, and this year has awarded eight persons/organisations for satisfactorily meeting the requirements.
The Millennium Development Goals, she said, form a blue print agreed to by all the world’s countries and all the world’s leading development institutions.
“The MDG has galvanised unprecedented efforts to meet the needs of the world’s poorest, and we at the United Nations will continue to work with governments, civil society and other partners to build on the momentum generated by the MDGs, in order for us to all implement the post -2015 development agenda,” Ms. Musa said.
She congratulated Guyana for achieving all the MDG targets related to poverty eradication and for being on track on most of the other goals and told of the UN’s continued support for Guyana’s development efforts.
In conclusion, she toasted with Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, to the strong partnership which exists between the United Nations Agency’s Fund and Programmes and the Government of Guyana.”
Others among the distinguished gathering were: Ministers of Government; Members of Parliament; Heads of UN Agencies in Guyana; Members of the Diplomatic Corps, Winners of the MDG Awards and others.

(By Shirley Thomas)