Patterson
Omar Anderson, Gleaner Writer
The poor will always be with us, and yesterday Prime Minister P.J. Patterson told the 60th Session of the United Nations (U.N.) General Assembly in New York just that.
In a stirring presentation, Prime Minister Patterson lamented that most countries will not meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) which, among other things, aim to eliminate poverty and hunger worldwide.
"In certain areas, such as the elimination of hunger, we would be centuries away." the Prime Minister said.
The eight MDGs were set in Monterrey, Mexico in 2000 and should be achieved by 2015.
They are eradicating poverty and hunger, achieving universal primary education, promoting greater gender equality and women empowerment, reducing child mortality, improving maternal health, fighting HIV/AIDS, malaria and other infectious diseases, ensuring environmental sustainability, and developing a global partnership for development.
The Prime Minister said limited financial resources, debt, restricted asymmetrical trade opportunities and HIV/AIDS, have been identified as major inhibiting factors.
"No one can remain safe and secure or even content while living in an oasis of wealth surrounded by a desert of poverty," Mr. Patterson chided.
He told the gathering that natural disasters in some developing countries have also impeded progress towards achieving the MDGs. The Prime Minister was not to leave out the issue of gun control.
He stated that the flood of weapons and ammunition from producing countries threaten life, the social fabric and law and order in smaller states.
He added that development goals and targets could not be met within the 15-year time frame without the massive infusion of financial and professional resources.
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