Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves says he is optimistic about St. Vincent and the Grenadines prospects of becoming a non-permanent member of the United Nations (UN) Security Council for the two year period 2020-2021.
The elections are scheduled to be held in June 2019.
St. Vincent and the Grenadines is currently continuing in earnest with its campaign to sit on the UN Security Council.
Speaking this morning on the Shakeup Program from New York where he will be attending the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly, Prime Minister Gonsalves said he held a fruitful meeting yesterday with the Ambassadors of the Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC) to garner their support for St. Vincent and the Grenadines campaign.
“We have to have the selection out of GRULAC first of all to get the majority there, and then we have to proceed and get two-thirds of the General Assembly. Now we are quite confident that we will get the endorsement of GRULAC. The overwhelming majority of states from GRULAC have already indicated their support for us and that was reflected yesterday at this luncheon and there are one and two others which have indicated that we will get formal documentation of support,” said Dr. Gonsalves.
“And across the world we have been getting endorsements, so I’m very optimistic about the prospects of St. Vincent and the Grenadines becoming a member of the (UN) Security Council for the years 2020-2021,” the Prime Minister added.
Dr. Gonsalves explained that this country’s campaign to become a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council had started in 2009.
He said the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has already endorsed St. Vincent and the Grenadines candidacy to become a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council.
CARICOM Foreign Ministers had accepted St. Vincent and the Grenadines candidacy to become a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council several years ago.
Prime Minister Gonsalves reiterated that if successful, St. Vincent and the Grenadines would be the smallest country ever to be elected to sit on the UN Security Council and the first CARICOM Country in over 20 years to do so.
The other CARICOM countries were Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana.
As a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council St. Vincent and the Grenadines will be addressing issues of peace and international order.
