PM Harris meets ex-Canadian PM Chrétien at UN, discusses further cooperation with St Kitts-Nevis

Tuesday, 24th September 2019

Prime Minister Dr Timothy Harris on Monday held a productive and constructive bilateral meeting with former Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrétien, who served from 1993 to 2003, at the United Nations in New York. PM Chrétien was acting as an emissary for Canada’s current Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, who is at home campaigning for re-election. Canada’s federal election is scheduled to take place on October 21st, 2019. During the useful discussions that explored possibilities for further cooperation, the Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis advocated for more capacity building opportunities that would expose the people of the Federation to skills enhancement training in Canada within fast-growing sectors such as hospitality and tourism. PM Harris’ attention was drawn to the Sustainable Infrastructure Fellowship Program for senior level public-sector infrastructure managers in emerging markets. The five-week academic program is administered through York University’s Schulich School of Business in Toronto, Canada. For more information on the fellowship program, which was created by the Investor Leadership Network (ILN) in collaboration with the Government of Canada, or to apply, visit www.investorleadershipnetwork.org. PM Harris raised the point that a critical piece of new infrastructure – the second cruise pier at Port Zante – was built and completed as a result of the involvement of the Canadian Commercial Corporation (CCC), Canada’s government to government contracting organization. “That has been a constructive area in which you have been able to help us with a major plan,” PM Harris said. The bilateral meeting also addressed how the two countries can work together to advance a climate change agenda that ensures the voice of Small Island States is heard and listened to on the global stage. Speaking at the 2017 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP23), UN Secretary-General António Guterres said, “The voice of Small Island States that are on the frontlines of the impact of climate change must [be] the voice of us all.” Monday’s fruitful talks took place on the sidelines of high-level meetings at the United Nations, including the UN Secretary-General’s 2019 Climate Action Summit. A high-level General Debate will open at the United Nations on Tuesday.