St. Kitts and Nevis leans into international leadership with bid for seat on prominent United Nation’s Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)
United Nations, New York (7 April 2025) The Permanent Mission of St. Kitts and Nevis to the United Nations informed the august body of the federation’s decision to seek a seat on the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). The Economic and Social Council, one of the six organs of the UN, is at the heart of the United Nations system. It holds the responsibility for coordinating the UN’s economic, social, humanitarian, and cultural activities. It is the central platform for fostering debate and innovative thinking, forging consensus on ways forward, and coordinating efforts to achieve internationally agreed goals. ECOSOC is also responsible for the follow-up to major UN conferences and summits. The election to admit new members to the United Nations Economic and Social Council will be held on 4th June 2025 in New York.
According to the correspondence transmitted to the UN from Permanent Mission of St. Kitts and Nevis to the UN informing of its candidacy to ECOSOC, “the Federation’s transformative vision to build the Caribbean’s leading Sustainable Island State by 2040 has placed it at the vanguard of resilience and sustainability among small island states. This visionary project injects impetus into our national drive to attain the Sustainable Development Goals and future-proof our society and economy. Its success is dependent on an enabling international environment and partnerships that respect ambition. Our candidature is therefore built on the theme “Sustainability, Resilience, Security,” and we look forward to working at the United Nations with a sense of urgency, and as a voice of consensus and partnership on the Economic and Social Council.”
In seeking the support and vote of diplomatic and development partners, H.E Dr. Mutryce Williams underlined that “our development thrust informs our passion at the St. Kitts and Nevis Permanent Mission to the UN, and the Federation’s hosting of the Global Sustainable Islands Summit in May reflects the government’s desire to stay true to the United Nation’s goals of sustainable development and just transition.” Her Excellency added that if elected to ECOSOC, “St. Kitts and Nevis intends to be an ally to the most vulnerable,” with climate action, biodiversity loss, environmental justice and economic equity being at core of the campaign – issues that a critical to every Kittitian and Nevisian as we head into another hurricane season with worsening storms.”
Prime Minster Terrance Drew said that “St. Kitts and Nevis’ candidature to ECOSOC reflects my Administration’s action-oriented agenda. We believe that St. Kitts and Nevis has a voice for good on the international stage, and we intend to deploy it and leverage it to secure win-win geostrategic partnerships for sustainability, resilience and security here at home, to empower Kittitians and Nevisians as the face an increasingly uncertain world.”
The Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas, the nation’s Foreign Minister, underscored his pleasure at being able to lead a foreign service “that recognizes the changes that are afoot geopolitically and geo-economically while exercising diplomatic agility and leaning into leadership. Our foreign policy is to consolidate partnerships, diversify our diplomatic portfolios and scale up our visibility and leadership across key institutions that advance our vision of a Sustainable Island State.”
St. Kitts and Nevis is no stranger to leadership. Her Excellency Dr. Mutryce Williams, Minister Counselor Eustace T. Wallace, the Mission’s Election’s Officer, and the entire St. Kitts and Nevis UN team must be commended for their strategic foresight, for their diligence, and commitment in implementing the foreign policy vision outlined by the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis.
