February 21st 2023

SAINT LUCIA ELECTED CHAIR OF UN DECOLONIZATION COMMITTEE

by St Lucia Mission

Saint Lucia’s Ambassador to the United Nations (UN) H.E. Menissa Rambally was elected chair of the UN Special Committee on Decolonization (C-24), during elections held at the organizational session of the C-24 on 16th February. The Committee, which consists of 29 members, also elected the Ambassadors of Cuba, Indonesia, Sierra Leone as its three Vice-Chairs. and the Syrian Arab Republic as its Rapporteur.

In her statement following the election, Ambassador Rambally acknowledged the important work of her predecessor, Ambassador Keisha McGuire of Grenada, “who led the committee skillfully through the difficult period at the height of the global pandemic.” She further noted:

“The C-24 will remain true to its mandate entrusted upon by the General Assembly, and (will) fulfill that mandate in accordance with the UN Charter and relevant General Assembly resolutions. The C-24 will address the needs and situation of each Territory on its agenda, on a case by case basis, taking into account the Territory’s particular circumstances.”

Currently, there are seventeen, mostly island, non self-governing territories formally recognized by the UN General Assembly. The substantive work of the UN on self-determination of these territories is conducted by the Special Committee on Decolonization which was instrumental in Saint Lucia’s progression to independence.

Ambassador Rambally is scheduled to lead a United Nations Delegation to the UN Pacific Regional Seminar in Bali, Indonesia in May to review the progress achieved in the implementation of the Plan of Action for Eradication of Colonialism with specific emphasis on the Pacific territories. Saint Lucia was the host of the highly successful regional seminar in 2022 that focused attention on the Caribbean territories.

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