Ban Ki-moon:Keep hope alive

NEW YORK, April 1  – United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is urging Caribbean and other developing countries to keep alive the promise of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
In a message marking 1 000 days before the target date to achieve what he described as “a vital moment in history’s largest and most successful; anti-poverty push”, Ban said while a journey of a 1000 miles begins with a single step “ starting this week, we can march a thousand days forward into a new future”.
Many Caribbean countries have pledged to be part of the MDGS by 2015 agreeing to the eight goals set out in 2000 to cut global poverty and hunger by half, fight climate change and disease, tackle unsafe water and sanitation, expand education and open doors of opportunity for girls and women. 
The UN Secretary General said that it was not the first time leaders had made lofty promises and that cynics expected the MDGs to be abandoned as too ambitious.
“Instead, the Goals have helped set global and national priorities, mobilize action, and achieve remarkable results.” (CMC)