Developing countries continue to face constraints associated with limited access to development financing. Improved access to such financing is vital for the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals. The United Nations must continue to champion the need for great access to development financing for developing states. This was according to the President of Guyana, Irfaan Ali, as he delivered remarks to the 75th Session of the United Nations General Assembly today.
“The UN has a special duty to ensure that members’ obligations under international agreements are fulfilled and that setbacks in meeting commitments are reversed. Guyana applauds the ongoing work on reform of the United Nations development system (UNDS). We believe, however, that there should be greater focus on reforms that are tailored to allow the UN to respond adequately to existing and emerging gaps in development and to find solutions to existing threats,” the Head of State said.
Regarding COVID-19, the President noted that the pandemic has launched an attack on the health and well-being of people while the economy has become a causality of this assault. He added that the pandemic is reversing gains on health, poverty and education. This reality, he said, must guide the policies and programmes of the UN to ensure that countries persevere.
“More than ever, the resolve of the United Nations is being tested and it is evident that no single country can overcome the debilitating effects alone. This reality must inform the trajectory of the United Nations so that it can support the efforts of developing countries to rebuild and to become more resilient,” he added .
