By Derrick Scott
New York – Jamaica’s Prime Minister, Andrew Holness, speaking at United Nations Headquarters in New York today (Sept. 24th), called on his fellow leaders of the world’s nations to “commit to the consolidation of peaceful coalitions.”
“What better occasion than this Summit, to do just that,” the Prime Minister told the world leaders, as he delivered Jamaica’s statement to a UN Nelson Mandela Peace Summit, held to mark the centenary of Mandela’s birth. “Let that be our legacy in his honour!”
Prime Minister Holness underscored the forum’s importance and timeliness, “at a time of heightened global concern about hostility and conflict within some of our societies.” He stressed the relevance of the Summit’s focus – Global Peace – especially “with some regimes focused on the use of might rather than the protection of right.
“The centenary of Nelson Mandela’s birth provides space for us as world leaders to affirm the need for healthy and meaningful dialogue to engender peace, reconciliation and communal accord,” which the Prime Minister identified as “principles that Mandela would very much wish us to promote on this occasion.”
Elaborating, Prime Minister Holness said these goals are not easily achieved without significant sacrifice from leaders, pointing out that “No one understood this more than Nelson Mandela.” He said Nelson Mandela understood however, throughout his long walk to freedom, that full freedom could only be achieved if he left bitterness behind.
Mr. Holness also used the occasion of the Peace Summit to underscore Jamaica’s proud and strong leadership role in driving efforts to dismantle the apartheid system in South Africa. “We were the first country in the Western Hemisphere and second in the world, along with India to ban trade and travel with the racist regime.”
The Prime Minister is in New York leading Jamaica’s delegation to the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly, where he will deliver Jamaica’s policy statement on Thursday. The Jamaican delegation includes Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Hon. Kamina Johnson-Smith.
