NDP a departure from 'business as usual' Christie says

Mon, Apr 25th 2016, 11:07 AM

In a statement at the United Nations (UN) High Level Thematic Debate on Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Prime Minister Perry Christie said the national development plan process represents for The Bahamas "an ambitious departure" from business as usual.

Meanwhile, citing the need for international cooperation if The Bahamas and other small island developing states (SIDS) are to meet the new benchmarks, he pledged The Bahamas' constructive participation in the follow-up and review processes of the 2030 Agenda.

Christie said he hoped that participation would lead to the strengthening of international cooperation, the sharing of best practices and lessons learned and better positioning of the UN system toward achieving the SDGs, in respect of all countries.

Speaking in New York late last week, Christie said member states could be proud of what was accomplished last year in the effort to eradicate poverty, adopting the universal 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and other key agreements.

"But now is the time to get to work," he said, acknowledging that implementation of the SDGs will not be easy.

"Like the 2030 Agenda, the National Development Plan of The Bahamas seeks to address the key dimensions of sustainable development - the economy, social policy, governance and the environment - in an integrated policy framework.

"Now we are setting out the details for the action plan on the way forward, and we are, in every way possible, seeking to align our plan with the implementation of the SDGs," he said.

Christie said the move represents "an ambitious departure" from business as usual, in the direction of comprehensive medium and longer-term planning, and innovative policy making and policy making structures.

"For example, our education policies will now take into consideration important variables, such as crime rates and the realities of the country's transportation system. We are also working toward the development of a capital planning process for infrastructure that would enable decision-makers to prioritize and, where necessary, integrate investments across ministries and sectors.

"We will pursue these and other goals, all while making the necessary linkages to the SDGs, targets and indicators," he said.

Community
Christie insisted that The Bahamas would need the support of the international community to achieve its goals.

"We will need a global environment that enables sustainable development, facilitating the necessary means of implementation to small island developing states, like The Bahamas, particularly in the areas of finance, technology and capacity-building.

"In this connection, The Bahamas will participate constructively in the follow-up and review processes of the 2030 Agenda. With this, we hope to strengthen international cooperation, share best practices and lessons learned, and better position the UN system toward achieving the SDGs, in respect of all countries," he said.

Christie also affirmed The Bahamas' commitment to the development of women and girls.

"In this connection, we are mobilizing resources as we speak to ensure that our constitution reflects this gender equality. On June 7, we are asking our people to vote yes, approving four bills to give women equality in law," the prime minister said.

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