NEW YORK:--- Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor (VSA), the Honorable Claret Connor, delivered remarks during the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly at the UN Global Compact High-Level Forum on the Coalition for Sustainable Procurement.
Connor attended the high-level engagements on behalf of Prime Minister Dr. Luc F.E. Mercelina, who was originally scheduled to participate but remained in Sint Maarten to address pressing local matters.
Addressing ministers, heads of delegation, United Nations representatives, development partners and private-sector leaders, Connor described sustainable procurement as a powerful instrument for development, particularly for small island states such as Sint Maarten.
“Procurement is not simply an administrative tool; it is a development tool,” Connor said. “It is one of the principal means through which governments convert public resources into meaningful and measurable outcomes for the people we serve.”
A central feature of the morning’s programme was the official launch of the Sustainable Procurement Implementation Framework. The framework was presented as a global public good for governments to endorse and as a practical mechanism to help companies incorporate sustainability into their procurement decisions and operations.
Representing the Government of Sint Maarten as part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands delegation, Connor commended the UN Global Compact and its partners for launching the Coalition for Sustainable Procurement.
He also welcomed the Sustainable Procurement Implementation Framework, saying it could provide practical guidance to governments seeking to maximize the impact of public resources and development assistance.
“Every procurement dollar spent represents an opportunity—an opportunity to deliver better services, strengthen our economy, build institutional capacity, enhance resilience and advance sustainable development,” Connor said.
“We must consider not only what we purchase and at what cost, but also the economic, social, environmental and institutional value that our purchasing decisions can create.”
The programme included presentations and recommendations from private-sector members of the coalition, including Schneider Electric, Outokumpu, Intrepid Travel, BBVA and Renew. Their contributions focused on the policy measures and public-sector support needed to advance sustainable procurement throughout the private sector.
The high-level deliberations brought public- and private-sector decision-makers together to examine critical procurement challenges, identify partnership opportunities and advance practical solutions that use procurement to support the objectives of the Pact for the Future.
Connor also underscored the connection between sustainable procurement and good governance. He said effective frameworks could strengthen the ways governments plan, purchase, contract and monitor public expenditure while promoting transparency, accountability, fairness, efficiency and effective oversight.
“These principles are especially important for small island economies, where resources are limited, vulnerabilities are significant and every public investment must deliver the greatest possible value,” the minister stated.
Connor highlighted Sint Maarten’s unique circumstances as an island shared by Dutch Sint Maarten and French Saint-Martin—two territories with different constitutional structures that exist harmoniously alongside one another.
Despite those differences, both sides face similar challenges as small, open economies that depend heavily on imports and remain vulnerable to external shocks and severe tropical weather.
The minister also pointed to Sint Maarten’s strategic geographical position at the heart of air and maritime connectivity in the northeastern Caribbean. He noted that the country serves as an important hub for neighboring islands, including Anguilla, Saint Barthélemy, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and the British Virgin Islands.
According to Connor, this position creates opportunities to strengthen regional partnerships, diversify suppliers, reduce costs and increase resilience. Achieving these objectives, however, will require inclusive and robust procurement practices that properly consider the realities confronting small island states.
“In closing, let us view sustainable procurement not simply as a change in how governments buy, but as a transformation in how governments deliver development,” Connor said. “For Sint Maarten and small island economies more broadly, this is not merely an ambition—it is a practical necessity.”
Connor concluded by urging governments and development partners to make procurement decisions wisely, transparently and purposefully. He said every public investment should contribute to stronger institutions, more resilient communities and a sustainable future for present and future generations.
