Your Excellency Governor-General Dame Nita Barrow, Prime Minister Erskine Sandiford, Mr. Chairman, Honourable Ministers, Members of the Group of Eminent Persons, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen:

It is indeed a great privilege for me to speak on behalf of the Group of Eminent Persons on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, in response to the distinguished Governor General's most important keynote address. First of all, I wish to pay tribute to the Governor-General and the government of Barbados for convening this Meeting in preparation for the UN Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, which is going to be held in this historic city in a few days' time. The beautiful island environment of Barbados is an extremely inspiring and conducive atmosphere for us to deliberate on the current problems facing the Small Island Developing States. All of us, who are honoured to be members of the Group, extend our sincere thanks to the government and people of Barbados for the generous hospitality extended to us and the excellent arrangements that have been made to make our stay here both comfortable and fruitful.

The Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States would, undoubtedly, be a milestone in our efforts to attain the goals outlined in the ambitious Rio Declaration and Agenda 21. It would also provide an excellent opportunity for the Small Island Developing States to reach consensus on their special needs and concerns, and to impress upon the industrialised world the seriousness of the plight that awaits those hapless countries if effective and urgent measures are not taken to avert the impending global environmental crises.

Mr. Chairman:

The term "sustainable development" has become a buzz word in development terminology in recent times, and it has given a new perspective to development ideologies. The Brundtland Commission championed the concept and defined it as 'development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs" Thus, today, the concept of development not only professes economic growth, but demands respect for the environment, requiring us to work towards a symbiotic relationship of both. The concept does not, in any way, support no-growth policies. It reasons to value the environment - its resources and its biological diversity inclusive.

The new paradigm has its roots in the integration of two disciplines of thought, the science of the environment and economics. In the course of the last two decades, new scientific findings on climate change and its associated impacts have emerged. The primary cause which induced these impacts was traced to human infringement of the earth's resources with little or no regard to the environment's limitations. Today, we are aware of these limitations, and climate change and environmental degradation due to excessive exploitation of the earth's resources have become

global concerns. For the low-lying small island states, global warming and sea level rise have become issues of utmost concern. The islands of our archipelago, the Maldives, rise merely one to two metres above mean sea level, and any rise in sea level would certainly have very serious impacts on our nation. Indeed, the predicted environmental threats will, expose all Small Island Developing States to unimaginable dangers. It will also greatly increase the magnitude of difficulties that are already confronting our countries, in our pursuit to attain sustainable development.

In order to implement sustainable development, societies are required to meet human needs by increasing their productive potential, and by ensuring equal opportunities for economic, social and political progress. We believe that the definitive restrictions that sustainable development imposes on our countries could be overcome only if we receive adequate financial and technical assistance from the developed countries. The current phenomena of environmental degradation have been activated undoubtedly by the unsustainable lifestyles in those countries. In their race for economic supremacy, the wealthy countries of the North have pursued rapid industrialization by progressive exploitation, particularly of exhaustible resources, thereby, endangering the global environment. As we all know, pollution and its associated impacts arising from the accumulation of industrial waste are not restricted to national or geographic boundaries. Sadly, it is the small island nations that are most susceptible to almost all global environmental problems.

Furthermore, against the backdrop of geographical vulnerability, intrinsic economic difficulties and rapid population growth, our countries are now compelled to anticipate the dangers of several environmental crises. Small Island Developing States share a number of specific environmental challenges. Smallness invariably restricts the potential for economic growth, as both natural and human resource scarcity are inherent limitations. The susceptibility of our countries to external shocks is an additional factor which magnifies our economic vulnerability several-fold.

Small Island Developing States possess predominantly marine resources. The sea that surrounds them provides as much as, or more resources than, the terrestrial environment. For instance, the two main productive sectors of the Maldives - fisheries and tourism - derive their wealth from the marine environment. Tourism depends not only on the white sandy beaches, the lush green palms, and the serenity of our uninhabited islands, but also on the beauty of the clear lagoons and the spectacular marine life that exists in our seas. Thus, the protection and preservation of the resource base is a prerequisite to sustain the output of these sectors over time.

Amidst the grim economic scenario of a typical Small Island Developing State, the Maldives faces a host of environmental problems. The destruction of coral reefs, coastal erosion, hydrological problems of freshwater depletion and saline intrusion into acquifers, and the dangers of marine pollution due to improper methods of sewage and solid waste disposal are some of these issues. Rapid population growth, a characteristic feature in most small island developing countries, complicates the development dilemma further. Additionally, population density, particularly in the capital islands of our respective countries, has aggravated many socio-economic and environmental problems. Uncontrolled population growth in our small island nations, therefore, is a serious constraint that hinders sustainable development.

In the light of the above, we need to assess the prevalent scenarios with respect to our economies and environments. This, indeed, compels us to seek assistance from the international community. While there is very little Small Island Developing States can do to tackle global issues such as climate change and sea level rise, we are not being complacent until the international community comes to our rescue. The strategic intervention of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), of which the Maldives is a member, in the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee's work to formulate the Climate Change Convention is noteworthy. AOSIS attempted to ensure that the interests of small island states are adequately incorporated in the Climate Change Convention. The Maldives enacted a Law on Environmental Protection and Preservation in 1993, and is implementing a National Environment Action Plan which incorporates national actions recommended in Agenda 21 of the Earth Summit. Measures are also being taken to protect the reef structures which act as protective barriers to our islands.

We of the Small Island Developing States are aware of the world community's concern with regard to global environmental problems. The commitment shown by some of the developed nations to combat these problems is commendable. I understand that Germany adopted-a National Carbon Dioxide Emission Reduction Programme in 1990, enforced a CFC Halon Prohibition Ordinance in 1991 and successfully advocated that members of the European Community be obliged to dispense with CFCs by the end of 1995. There may be other industrialised countries who have adopted similar measures. Despite this and the on-going debates and research work, as well as the adoption of international conventions and protocols on matters relating to the environment, we, the Small Island Developing States, are still anxious to see the effective implementation of far-reaching strategies in order to protect our states from environmental crises. In this regard, the inadequacy of the current Global Environment Facility to meet the special needs of Small Island Developing States is a matter of deep concern to us. On the other hand, the need for having a Small Island Developing States cell in the UN system, and for a global network for the collection of data and the dissemination of information concerning climate change and sea level rise is deeply felt. Regional economic groups and their effects on markets for Small Island Developing States also have to be assessed.

Mr. Chairman, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen:

Before I conclude, let me once again congratulate Governor-General Dame Nita Barrow, for taking the initiative to convene this Meeting. I also take this opportunity to assure you, on behalf of the Group of Eminent Persons, of our desire and resolve to work together to present substantive suggestions to the forthcoming Global Conference.

Thank you.