Logistics information for Participants

Venue

The CARICOM-UN High Level Pledging Conference will take place at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. The public entrance to the United Nations Headquarters is located on 1st Avenue at 46th Street.

Date and time

The CARICOM-UN High Level Pledging Conference is a two-day event:

  • Technical consultations, Monday 20 November 2017, 09:00AM-5:00PM, Conference Room 4;
  • High level meeting, Tuesday 21 November 2017, 9:00AM-5:00PM, ECOSOC Chamber.

The access on 20 and 21 November is restricted. Please see below.

Level of participation

On the first day, the technical consultations will be chaired by the Secretary-General of CARICOM and the Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in cooperation with CARICOM Member States. The expected level of participation for the technical consultations is at Ambassador/ Senior Official level.

 

On the second day, the high-level meeting will be opened by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the Prime Minister of Grenada in his capacity of Chair of CARICOM, the President of the General Assembly and the Secretary-General of CARICOM. The level of participation on the main floor of the ECOSOC Chamber is at the Heads of Government/Ministerial level.

Registration and access

Participants from Member States and invited organization should register by 15 November Close of Business using the Registration Form

Register Now

Technical consultations on 20 November

Participation is limited to a maximum of three persons per Member State or invited Organizations (does not apply to the CARICOM Secretariat and Panel Members). The name and title of each participant must be provided on the registration form. The Conference Organizing Team might restrict the entry to the room on the day of the event if the capacity of the room is exceeded.

High level meeting on 21 November

Organizations that have received an invitation will be granted access to the main floor. Participants must confirm participation by the close of business (New York time) on Wednesday 15 November. Participation is limited to a maximum of two persons per Member State / Invited Organization (does not apply to CARICOM Member States). The name and title of each participant must be provided on the registration form.

Technical support staff of Member States or invited Organizations will be granted access, as observers, to the balcony of the ECOSOC Chamber on 21 November. The name and title of each participant must be provided on the registration form.

Access to the building

20th of November

Technical consultations will be open to all invited and registered participants with a UN ground pass. Participants with no UN Ground Pass should indicate on the registration form and will be able to collect their accreditation from one of the volunteers who will be posted in front of the entrance gates one hour before the beginning of the event.

21st of November

Member States

Permanent Missions to the United Nations should ensure that their official delegations have Ground Passes to access the building. Permanent mission can use the online form to register their participants at the deputy minister level and above. Please indicate “CARICOM-UN Conference” in the form. For other participants, please refer to the “Participants with no UN Ground Pass” section below.

Delegates Ground Pass (red letter) will grant access to the ECOSOC Chamber from the second floor of the Conference Building in the UN Secretariat.

UN Organizations and affiliated

Senior Staff with yellow letters passes and other UN Staff with a UN GA All Area pass will be granted access on the second floor of the Conference Building in the UN Secretariat.

Registered participants with Staff and Consultant Ground Passes will be granted access from the third floor of the Conference Building in the UN Secretariat.

CARICOM Institutions and other Participants with no UN Ground Pass valid in New York

Passes for invited and registered participants who do not have UN Grounds Passes may be collected in front of the public entrance to the United Nations Headquarters located on 46th Street at First Avenue. Only participants who have registered will be granted access.

Participants are requested to collect their accreditation from one of the volunteers who will be posted in front of the entrance gates from 7:30AM to 10:00AM on the day of the meeting.  If this is your first time at UN Headquarters and/or you need assistance finding the Conference Room, please contact any of the team members of the Conference. Please note that it can take some time (allow an hour) to pass the security clearance during peak times. No backpacks / suitcases are allowed and guests must bring a valid government photo id.

Seating arrangements

Technical consultations on 20 November

On 20 November, a section of seats will be reserved for each type of organization on the main floor. Seating is free within each section.

High-level meeting on 21 November

Member States and Organizations who have been invited and have registered will have a plate up. Please indicate what the plate should read in the registration form. Participants will have access to one seat at the table and one seat immediately behind (CARICOM Member States will have access to one seat at the table and two seats immediately behind).

Interventions

Technical consultations on 20 November

Time allowed, participants will have the opportunity to engage during the Question and Answer (Q&A) session of the thematic panels.  They are invited to limit their intervention to 3 minutes. Concept notes outlining the objectives for each thematic session will be circulated ahead of the meeting. Following each panel presentation, the respective chair will open the floor in accordance with the agenda for each session.

High-level meeting on 21 November

Member States are invited to limit their intervention to 3 minutes to pledge in support of the CARICOM Member States. Member States can register their intention to make an intervention in the registration form.

Organizations, which have received invitations to speak on 21th November, and wish to take the floor during the pledging session, should indicate this by requesting to be added to speaker list. Organizations will be invited to limit their intervention to 3 minutes.

Travel, accommodation, lunch and dinner

Participants are expected to make their own arrangements for travel and accommodation, as well as for meals during the conference.

Other logistical information

Medical Services

Participants are responsible for making their own insurance arrangements, including life, health and other insurances as deemed appropriate. It is expected that all participants are covered by individual health insurance providers during their complete stay.

Visa Requirements

Prior to their travel, participants are requested to check with the airlines or with the United States consulate in their country of origin whether a visa is required for travel to the United States. If a visa is required, participants are asked to make the necessary arrangements as soon as possible.

Banks

Chase Bank has a branch located at the corner of 44th Street and 1st Avenue.  There are cash machines (ATMs) and foreign currency exchange counters available within the Bank.  The Bank is open on weekdays from 9am to 6pm.

Dinning

 The United Nations has a cafeteria located within their premises and serves hot food until 2:15pm and is open until 16:00hrs.  Restaurants are available within short walking distance from the UN headquarters. Participants expected to make their own arrangements for meals during the conference.

Internet

 Participants will have access to the United Nations guest Wi-Fi services.  No password is required.

Hotel accommodation

 Participants are expected to make their own arrangements for hotel accommodation.

Miscellaneous Information

  • Time in New York City: GMT/UTC minus 5 hours
  • Weather: November can be very cold in New York City; temperatures average 5 Celsius. Warm clothing is recommended.
  • Currency: US Dollar
  • Tipping: Restaurant prices do not include service. It is customary to leave a 20% tip.
  • Taxi Transportation:
  • There is no departure tax from U.S. airports.

 

Contact persons

 Prior to the conference, participants can contact:

Ana Maria Luey

DC1-22nd floor – UNDP

Tel: +1 212 906-5436

E-mail: ana.maria.luey@undp.org

 

Maria Teresa Quezada

DC1-22nd floor – UNDP

E-mail: maria.teresa.quezada@ @undp.org