United Nations Jamaica 76th Anniversary

It is with great pleasure that I join leaders around the world in celebrating the United Nations’ 76th Anniversary. Since its inception the UN has been instrumental in forging a better world for all, through maintaining international peace and security, protecting human rights, delivering humanitarian aid, supporting sustainable development and inspiring climate action. In each of these areas, the UN continues to play the critical role of mobilizing the global community in service of accomplishing mankind’s collective goals. This is why we can celebrate UN Day in recognition of enactment of the UN Charter in 1945. Throughout this week, the UN in Jamaica has acknowledged the selfless service of our essential and frontline workers who have led the way in navigating the COVID-19 pandemic and its associated crises facing our nation and the world. I join in recognising our local heroes, and express my thanks to all those, at home and abroad, who have given of their expertise, skills, resources and time to waging this war on the virus. I am especially delighted by the ‘Light Jamaica Blue’ campaign which seeks to visibly recognise the persistent work of our local heroes “to reduce, avert and recover from the impact of COVID-19”. Iwelcome thecelebrationofUNPartnership Week in Jamaica, encouraging even more meaningful cooperation among the private sector, civil society, youth and international organizations. It is especially important that as we strive to achieve Vision 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals, that we work together with all stakeholders playing their part. Happy 76th Anniversary! Mr. Mark J. Golding, MP Leader of the Opposition Today, we mark a significant milestone as the United Nations celebrates 76 years since its establishment. The United Nations has truly been an invaluable partner to Jamaica, embodying the spirit of “Partnerships for peace, planet and prosperity”. Our collective endeavours with the United Nations, particularly through the 13 UN Agencies and Offices operating locally, have supported our developmental aspirations and have positively impacted the lives of our citizens. More particularly, working under the banner of “Delivering Results Together”, we have worked jointly to improve the lives and livelihoods of Jamaicans across many areas including human rights, education, economic empowerment, health and climate change. We are, therefore, pleased to join the Resident Co-ordinator, Dr. Garry Conille and his team in celebrating their accomplishments and our positive outcomes. Our strong relationship has taken on added significance in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and our efforts at recovery. The UN System has provided invaluable and tangible assistance to the country, during the most unprecedented and one of the most challenging occurrences in recent history. We are deeply grateful for that support and we look forward to strengthening this bond of friendly co-operation as we move towards achieving our goal of building stronger and better beyond the pandemic. From another perspective, Jamaica’s long tradition of advocacy, careful negotiation and balanced diplomacy as a member of the inter-governmental framework of the United Nations, has been a hallmark of our foreign policy since our political independence in 1962. My recent participation in High-Level Week activities of the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly attests to the continued importance of the multilateral system in addressing issues of global interest and impact. We re-affirm our will to work together to deliver results for all members of the global community, including for small island developing countries such as Jamaica, for whom the universality of the United Nations bears special significance. As we commemorate the 76th Anniversary of the United Nations, Jamaica re-iterates our unwavering commitment to the principles and objectives of multilateralism, and to doing our part to ensure that the Organisation lives up to the noble ideals of the Charter. Happy 76th anniversary to the UN Family! Senator the Honourable Kamina Johnson Smith Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Forging a Better World for All Delivering Results, Improving Lives, Together The UN in Jamaica has acknowledged the selfless service of our essential and frontline workers who have led the way in navigating the COVID-19 pandemic and its associated crises facing our nation and the world. We look forward to strengthening this bond of friendly co- operation as we move towards achieving our goal of building stronger and better beyond the pandemic. MESSAGES 3 THE 76TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL FEATURE OF THE UNITED NATIONS IN JAMAICA