PM Browne meets with top UN official and participates in Global Citizen Now event during successful trip to New York

This week, Gaston Browne embarked on an important visit to the United Nations in New York. His visit was in advance of the 4th International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS4), which is set to take place in Antigua and Barbuda in the coming weeks.

Throughout his packed itinerary of meetings, Prime Minister Browne and his team discussed the conference’s significant priorities and the attention it has drawn, not just to Antigua and Barbuda, but to Small Island Developing States worldwide.

One of the most notable meetings held during the Prime Minister’s visit was with Courtenay Rattray, the Chef de Cabinet to the United Nations Secretary-General, His Excellency Antonio Guterres.

The meeting was lengthy and detailed, and it involved Prime Minister Browne and Works Minister the Maria Browne, as well as Antigua and Barbuda’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Walton Webson, his Deputy Tumasie Blair, First Secretary Claxton Duberry, and Communications Lead Andy Liburd.

The high-level discussion focused on key matters related to the SIDS4 conference, ranging from logistical details to agenda matters that were critical to ensuring that the conference achieved its far-reaching goals.

Later on, Prime Minister Browne participated in media interviews with UN Web TV and UN DESA Voice, where he shared his unique perspective on the pressing issues facing small island developing states and the importance of SIDS4.

He emphasized that through collective action and international cooperation, solutions could be found to the challenges that these states face.

The Prime Minister also attended the Global Citizens Now event, where he featured prominently on the opening panel of distinguished speakers and influential personalities.

The event’s theme was “World at a Crossroad: Act Today to Save Tomorrow,” and it attracted intellectuals, business and political leaders, and some of the most recognizable names in pop culture.

During the event, Prime Minister Browne addressed questions about the climate crisis and stressed that the world’s largest polluters could no longer be allowed to put humanity, especially those living in small island developing states and other vulnerable states, at risk.

Before leaving the United Nations, Prime Minister Browne held separate bilateral discussions with Sarah Fergusson, the Duchess of York, and the Executive Director of the Fossil Fuel Treaty Initiative Alex Rafalowicz. Based on their productive discussions, the Prime Minister expressed hope that they would be present at the SIDS4 Conference in Antigua and Barbuda.