Prime Minister Andrew Holness has been invited to attend the first ever G20 Summit in Argentina on November 30, according to a statement issued by the Office of the Prime Minister on Monday.
It said that Holness, who had also been invited to attend the Special Oceans Summit in Oslo, Norway following his successful historic presentation at the outreach session of the just concluded G7 Summit in Charlevoix, Canada.
The statement said that Holness was specially invited by Argentine President, Mauricio Macri and the Prime Minister of Norway, Erna Solberg.
Power of inclusive, sustainable economic growth
In Canada, Holness spoke of the need to strengthen resilience through integrated adaptation planning, emergency preparedness and recovery, while promoting gender-responsive approaches
He told the G7 summit that there are no forces with greater capacity to transform the lives of millions, from poverty to prosperity, than the forces of inclusive and sustainable economic growth.
Ravaging effects of climate change
“Yet, Jamaica and the Caribbean have struggled with low levels of economic growth and high debt, made worse by the ravaging effects of climate change on our islands which are situated in the midst of great bodies of water.”
Holness said that small island developing states (SIDS) like the countries of the Caribbean need to be empowered to take charge of their development and prosperity, through economic growth rather than debt, while being good stewards of our environment.
“This will undoubtedly require enlightened thinking and partnerships, as already recognized by each and every country which has signed on to Agenda 2030.”
Substantial progress
Holness said that with the steadfast support of bilateral friends and multi-lateral partners, Jamaica and other Caribbean countries have made substantial progress in implementing painful, but necessary economic and structural reforms across political administrations, which have delivered previously elusive macro-economic stability.
