Heads of States and members of the Non-Aligned Movement pose for a photo at Speke resort convention centre in Kampala, Uganda on January 19. Photo: Internet Source

Prime Minister Mark Phillips, addressing the Third South Summit of the Group of 77 and China that ended here on Monday, spoke of the urgency of a collaborative approach to surmount the formidable challenges faced by countries of the Global South.

“In addressing global challenges, we acknowledge that the world economic situation, geo-political tensions, and the peculiar environmental issues present formidable challenges for the countries of the Global South as we strive to safeguard the development interests of our nations and to ensure that “no one is left behind”, Phillips told the summit being held under the theme ‘Leaving No One Behind’.

He addressed the severe consequences the COVID-19 pandemic had on both developed and developing countries, noting that it would take developing countries several years to recover the growth levels necessary to fulfil the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.

“We have seen daunting reports of regression, with more than 50 per cent of our targets off track, some in reverse,” Phillips said, adding that to overcome these challenges there is need to explore common positions and to take decisive, coherent actions at various levels.

Phillips emphasised the need for support from both developing and developed countries, adding that “support for development efforts is paramount, and we must look both to ourselves and the developed world to move forward”.

He called for unity and decisive action, emphasising the need for common positions to tackle the developmental challenges faced by the Global South and stressed the importance of cooperation.

“It would be to our advantage to explore common positions which require decisive and coherent actions at different levels to address the challenges to development for the Global South and ensure that no one is left behind,” the prime minister urged, pointing out the necessity for internal and external support to propel development efforts forward.

He also used the occasion to reiterate Guyana’s support for the Palestinian quest for a secure homeland and the two-state solution for lasting Israel-Palestine peace.

“As leaders from the developing world, we have the responsibility to come together and claim, with a united voice, the changes needed to ensure a sustainable future for the current and future generations,”

In his address, Phillips also called for an urgent international review of development financing approaches, particularly for small island developing states (SIDS), which are highly susceptible to external shocks such as climate emergencies, financial and debt difficulties, and surging food prices.

He said these challenges exacerbate inequalities and sustain poverty, hindering global efforts towards sustainable development.

“We further noted the urgency for a comprehensive reform of the international financial architecture and a more inclusive and coordinated approach to global financial governance to aid effective response to the urgent threat of climate change based on the priorities of developing countries,”

Addressing the desired outcomes of the summit, he underscored the “importance of South-South, North-South, and Triangular cooperation” among developing countries, saying that “it is necessary for us to take appropriate collective actions to capitalize on our full potential, capacities, knowledge, technologies, and infrastructure to effectively address the new development challenges”.