STATEMENT BY MS. ALISON DRAYTON OF THE GUYANA DELEGATION ON BEHALF OF THE GROUP OF 77 AND CHINA BEFORE THE COMMISSION ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT INTER-SESSIONAL AD HOC WORKING GROUP ON OCEANS AND SEAS AND ON THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF SMALL ISLAND DEVELOPING STATES ON AGENDA ITEM 3: SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SMALL ISLAND DEVELOPMENT STATES

New York, 2 March 1999

Mr. Chairman

Five years ago in Barbados the world community agreed to a comprehensive programme of action for the sustainable development of small island developing States. This was the first of the post-Rio outcomes aimed at implementing Agenda 21. Since 1994 we have seen considerable progress at national and regional levels to implement this programme of action. There has also been support from committed development partners. However, as the reports of the Secretary-General point out, there remain significant constraints to the full and effective implementation of the Programme.

The Barbados Programme of Action clearly articulates the special circumstances of small island developing States and the sustainable development challenges they face. Many of the challenges remain the same. It is the view of the Group of 77 & China that this review must therefore start by reaffirming the Barbados Programme of Action and the decisions we have taken in CSD4 and CSD6 in our review of selected Chapters of that Programme.

But, more importantly, this review needs to clearly identify existing constraints to the implementation of the Barbados Programme of Action and to define exactly what we can do to overcome these constraints. The Group of 77 & China is fully committed to engaging our partners in a constructive dialogue in this process with a view to developing an action-oriented outcome from this review. In this regard, we welcome the recently held Donors Conference the results of which, we believe, harbour the potential for such an action-oriented outcome.

In this spirit, the Group of 77 & China has articulated a position paper on the review and implementation on the United Nations Programme of Action for the sustainable development of small island developing States. This paper provides the framework for the action-oriented outcome that we are seeking. The Group of 77 also expects to shortly consider a draft declaration for the Special Session, which we will present later.

Let me close by underscoring the hope that this review will lead to a new infusion of momentum into the implementation of the Barbados Programme of Action.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.