Page 28 - IBs November 2022

Opinion Opinion

way from New York City. We must be cognisant of discussions the UN does development. This could mean new strategies,
in these faraway places because they impact development frameworks, workshops, or it could mean real action. Chang-
trajectories in our island homes. However, development think- ing the way we do things in order to get a different or desired
ers and partners must also find ways to actually connect to result is a sign of maturity.
unique and Pacific-owned experiences. For us who are working with mainly rural women artisans,
When Mia Amor Mottley, the Prime Minister of Barbados, some of whom still use a trusted family horse to transport
spoke at the same General Assembly in September (2021), their products to the scheduled product pick-up site, the need
she called for a new UN Charter: one that would accurately to be flexible enough to factor in ongoing shifts is the norm.
reflect this day and age. Mottley and Guterres’ unapologetic The impact that the afore-mentioned faraway discussion may
frankness was refreshingly hopeful. have on our partnership, lives rent free in our minds.
Development practices must respond genuinely to the needs
of the communities we want to work with, or are working in. Existing tables matter
Guterres and Mottley called for fundamental shifts in the way We are handed a lot of paper, referred to numerous stud-

28 Islands Business, November 2022