H.E. Ambassador Keisha A. McGuire and Special Envoy E. Benito Wheatley. Photo: Provided

During the engagement, held in New York on April 17, 2019, Mr Wheatley congratulated Ambassador McGuire—who is also Grenada's Permanent Representative to the UN—on her earlier election as Chair of the C24 and expressed confidence in her leadership, particularly as the VI remains a territory on the UN’s General Assembly list of non-independent countries.

Caribbean Importance 

According to a release, Mr Wheatley commenting on the meeting said, “The Caribbean remains an important area of focus for the Special Committee on Decolonisation as the UN’s third international decade for the eradication of colonialism draws to a close.”

He said as preparations are being made for the Fourth International Decade within the region, there have been a number of significant developments since the hurricanes of 2017 which demand the committee’s attention.

“I am confident that the Special Committee will successfully guide the UN’s work in this important area under the leadership of Ambassador McGuire,” he said.

The courtesy call came ahead of the United Nations Caribbean Seminar on Decolonisation in Grenada set for May 2 - 6, 2019.