Above: Ambassador John Ashe (UN Photo/Rick Bajornas)

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador Dr John Ashe has officially begun his term as president of the United Nations General Assembly.

Ashe’s opening address to the 68th session of the General Assembly covered his team’s priorities for the “Post-2015 Development Agenda.” He is encouraging Member States to “promote dialogue, reflection and commitment to the formulation of an effective new agenda to overcome poverty and insecurity and ensure sustainable development.”

Ashe addressed the assembly following the adoption of a document aimed at promoting “disability-inclusive” development, pointing to the absence of reference to people with disabilities in the Millennium Development Goals.

“Given the size of such a marginalized group, the onus is on us all to ensure that any future sustainable development goals include the disabled,” he said. “The international community had now realized that it would be impossible to meet development targets, including the Millennium Goals, without incorporating the rights, well-being and perspective of persons with disabilities.”

Ashe was elected as General Assembly President in June 2013. He has previously served as Antigua’s Permanent Representative to the UN.