Excerpt from guardian.co.tt
Akash Samaroo
Reporting from UNGA in New York
Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley has called on the United Nations to desist from treating some countries like “children” and to reform its Security Council to include permanent seats for small island developing states (SIDS) and African nations.
Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly yesterday, Mottley said the UN Security Council must reflect the “multipolar” world that exists now and recognise that there have been substantial geopolitical shifts since 1962, the last time the council was reformed.
Mottley boldly told the UN that SIDS and African countries cannot be used for convenience.
“We all have perspectives that must be heard. You cannot ask us really, to show up for family photos and votes when you need them and then exclude us from the family’s decision-making as if you are the grown-ups and we are the children. We are not minors,” she said.
Mottley added, “We are independent sovereign states with full capacity and we insist on being treated as such.”