Full address of PM Timothy Harris from National Day Event of St Kitts and Nevis at Expo 2020 Dubai

Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis Dr Timothy Harris is currently in Dubai on an official visit. On Tuesday, the National Day of St Kitts and Nevis was celebrated at the Expo 2020 Dubai. Following is the full remarks by the Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris, at the National Day Event of St. Kitts and Nevis, Dubai, 16^th November 2021.

His Excellency Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence and Commissioner General of EXPO2020. Excellencies, distinguished guests, ladies, and gentlemen: I bring you warm greetings from the Government and People of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis.

I am delighted that we can come together in this lovely Al Wasl Plaza to celebrate the National Day of St. Kitts and Nevis.  My profound thanks are extended to the Government and people of the United Arab Emirates for their invaluable support in facilitating St. Kitts and Nevis’ participation in EXPO 2020.

Allow me to express my gratitude for the exceptionally warm welcome and kind courtesies afforded me and my delegation on our visit to Dubai.  For several small developing states, the progress and success of the United Arab Emirates represents a great source of inspiration.  I am heartened by the fact that the United Arab Emirates has long been a friend to St. Kitts and Nevis, and I look forward, to working to strengthen the solid bonds of friendship and cooperation that join our countries, advance our common interests and facilitate collaboration.

Your Excellency, my congratulations to you and the State of Dubai on the outstanding achievements of EXPO 2020 as seen in the success of this monumental undertaking.  It is indeed a powerful symbol and a catalyst for bringing our peoples together; in recommitting to partnership to address common cause; to explore and harness new boundaries of technology for good; to showcase our varied and yet similar cultural expressions; to give voice to our future ambitions and to exchange ideas and create opportunities to become more connected partners. This is consistent with the theme of “Connecting minds, Creating the future”.

I commend the Government of the United Arab Emirates for its visionary and progressive leadership - a vision, realised in partnership with Small Island Developing States like St. Kitts and Nevis – through which we are allowed an opportunity to showcase on a global stage the ambitions of our people; the road we are on; our history; cultural heritage; technological advancement, and opportunities for development and investment in key sectors.

St. Kitts and Nevis is working towards becoming a sustainable and eco-friendly tourism destination; hence our strategic focus, during EXPO2020, on sustainability.  We are a small nation with big ambitions.  We are resolved to reducing our dependency of fossil fuels by reorienting our policies, investments, and legislative focus on wind, solar and geothermal energy.  Currently, we are developing one of the largest solar farms in the Caribbean and we welcome partnership in these endeavours.

The United Arab Emirates continues to lead by example.  We salute your leadership in promoting the empowerment of all.  The Women’s Pavilion is a shining example and casts an important light on issues affecting women globally.  In addition, it seeks to offer solutions to tackling some of those problems.  We will support and partner with the UAE to achieve these goals.

As a nation, and as a matter of priority, we are committed to the Sustainable Development Goals.  Goal number seventeen speaks to partnership and the importance of developing partnerships to achieve sustainable development as embodied in the United Nations Agenda 2030.  We look forward, not only to deepening existing partnerships, but also in establising new ones.   We believe that the Dubai EXPO2020 is the ideal space and catalyst.

In the spirit of partnership, I delight in sharing that the Republic of China (Taiwan), like the UAE, has been a sterling partner of St. Kitts and Nevis.  This partnership has spanned the 38 years of our existence as an independent nation.   Taiwan’s assistance and cooperation are evident in the areas of renewable energy; environmental conservation; public health; agriculture and food security; education, and technology to name but a few.  We therefore wish to register our appreciation to the government and people of Taiwan for their partnership, which continues to offer a pathway for St. Kitts and Nevis to meet or perhaps to expedite progress towards sustainable development.

I can confirm, thanks to the diligence of our national Task Force on COVID-19, with the support and partnership of several countries, like India, the United States, and sister countries of CARICOM; that St. Kitts and Nevis has reopened for business.  The pandemic, which has caused untold hardship, loss and tragedy across the world had forced us to close our borders, but we are now open and ready to continue to fulfil our commitment to diversify our economy across multiple sectors such as agriculture, technology, trade, creative arts, and tourism.  Our eco-friendly tourism sector is one that allows you to enjoy nature, our superb hospitality, and an authentic twin-island paradise experience.  Our two islands, one paradise sport a range of boutique hotels as well as internationally renowned luxury brands like the Four Seasons Resort Nevis; the Park Hyatt St. Kitts and Belmont Farm, a one-of-a-kind farm-to-table concept hotel.

Our health sector focuses on wellness and preventative healthcare, and we hope to engage new partners to develop and expand our offerings.  We intend to introduce state-of-the-art tools and first-class service to transform our national healthcare system to serve our people and visitors to our twin islands of St. Kitts and Nevis.

The Covid-19 pandemic has reminded us of the fragility of life and the critical importance of preparation.  We thank the UAE for providing a safe environment for participating countries to work and operate our pavilion.  You have done a remarkable job in putting procedures and policies in place to protect everyone at EXPO 2020.  Thank you, Your Excellency [Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan] for this visionary leadership and thanks also to Her Excellency Reem Al Hashimi [Minister of State and International Cooperation] for helping to translate that vision into reality.

In closing, I invite you all to take a virtual hike or a leisurely walk through our nature trails, our rainforest or simply take a relaxing and reinvigorating stroll along our beaches.  We stand ready to welcome UAE visitors to our Federation, where you can enjoy our paradise on earth.  Follow your hearts to St. Kitts and  Nevis and live a one in a lifetime experience.

I thank you.