Mr. President, Heads of State, Heads of Government, distinguished delegates:

There are defining moments in human affairs when differences dividing countries and cultures are laid aside in pursuit of a higher common purpose, that of benefitting all humanity.

Our modern era has witnessed two such moments: the Millennium Development Declaration in 2000 and now the Post 2015 Development Agenda.

The gathering of world leaders to adopt eight international development goals some 15 years ago, represented unprecedented hope at the dawn of a new millennium. That initiative highlighted the intention of the global community to promote the eradication of poverty and hunger, sustained economic growth, and sustainable development.

Successive administrations in Barbados have pursued the goal of eradicating many of the social and economic contradictions which we inherited from our colonial past. In that connection, the administration over which I have the honour to preside has crafted the vision of creating “a Barbados that is socially balanced, economically viable, environmentally sound and characterised by good governance.”

That vision brings us squarely in line with the ideals embodied in the international development agenda which this special session of the United Nations has been convened to endorse. I am pleased to report, therefore, that we have, in most cases met the targets of which the MDGs are so precise and so humanitarian an expression.