WASHINGTON, CMC – Antigua and Barbuda Tuesday called on the Inter-American Committee on Sustainable Development (CIDS) to establish financing terms that match vulnerability, clear delivery timelines with partners, and a short quarterly public report to track results.
Addressing the seventh Regular Meeting of the CIDS, Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the Organization of American States (OAS), Sir Ronald Sanders, called for financing terms that match vulnerability, clear delivery timelines with partners, and a short quarterly public report to track results.
“Sustainable development, for small states, is practical: keeping electricity on after storms; ensuring there are schools for children to attend; rebuilding infrastructure to keep the economy running; and making sure debt payments leave fiscal space to provide medical services, keep people employed, and pay pensions,” Sir Ronald said, adding “we cannot meet these needs with vague promises and slow money”.
The purpose of the CIDS is to promote inter-American dialogue and cooperation in the area of sustainable development, propose the formulation of the policy of the OAS on this issue, and promote the development and execution of the Inter-American Program for Sustainable Development, as well as orient the coordination and follow-up of the various decisions of the Summit of the Americas on Sustainable Development.
In his address, Sir Ronald outlined three immediate priorities, including financing terms that fit risk.
He said standardize 30-year maturities, five-year grace periods, and automatic payment pauses after disasters in loans to high-vulnerability states. Base access to grants and low-cost loans on vulnerability, not income averages.
He noted the UN General Assembly’s acceptance of the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index (MVI) and urged lenders to embed it in their rules.
The Antigua and Barbuda diplomat said there should be partner commitments on the record. He said that by June 30, 2026, each partner should publicly state how much funding they will provide for Caribbean projects, and how much of it will be grants versus low-cost loans.
He again urged the creation of a dedicated fund for Caribbean transport and basic services—ports, runways, inter-island ferries, water systems, and small local power systems.
Sir Ronald said the third priority should be quarterly public accountability.
He said CIDS should publish a short quarterly report tracking: coastal-protection coverage; days to restore water and power after Category-5 events; renewables share, and diesel import spend relative to GDP; inter-island logistics costs; debt service vs. revenue and the concessional share; private capital mobilized per public dollar; independently verified mangrove/reef restoration; and days from disaster declaration to first insurance or support payment.
Ambassador Sanders also called for the creation of a small OAS project-preparation team focused on coastal defenses and water security. Additionally, a public timeline Internet page should be established to list who is responsible for each commitment and the deadline, to be reviewed at board meetings of the multilateral banks.
“Provide resilience financing up front. Make pausing loan repayments at times of disaster a condition of loans,” Sir Ronald concluded.
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