Highlights of Poverty Conference best forgotten
By
Andre John-Salakov 01/03/2010
The intention was no doubt honourable. The Mayor and Vice-Mayor of Rotterdam, and all the good ladies behind the Reception Desk at the magnificent De Doelen Conference Centre, and a host of others, did their best to make the occasion a memorable one. Unfortunately, it is often said that humankind proposes but God disposes. There are many who would rather not remember that the Conference ever happened.
HRH Princess Laurentien of the Netherlands was brilliant. She brought into the Conference Class and Status. The presence of two previous Dutch Prime Ministers, Mr. Ruud Lubbers and Wim Kok also graced the occasion.
The moment HRH Princess Laurentien and the two previous Dutch Prime Ministers left the Conference Hall, the whole thing descended into chaos.
The ones who wear their shoes long
I do not propose to comment on the general demeanour of the organisers, on the Dutch side. They have enough problems on their hands as things stand at the moment. They most certainly do not need a Pragmatist of my calibre to add more to their worries. Some politicians in the City would be seeking re-election in a couple of days from now.
But I have to say that, on the United Nations side, a number of those who descended on the Netherlands for the occasion wore their shoes long. The one identifiable individual from the UNDP [United Nations Development Programme, Geneva], who wore her shoes long was, Ms. Najat Rochdi.
Jekyll and Hyde
The UN should design a Character Aptitude Test for individuals working on any of its Programmes. Ms. Rochdi did not, by her demeanour, do the UN proud. She was aggressive, rude, and unkempt.
Greece deserved recognition
Ms. Rochdi and one other “moderator” treated delegates and many participants with total disrespect.
Delegates from Greece suffered more at the hands of Ms. Rochdi and the other "moderator". They were treated as if they did not exist. The fact that two years ago, Greece was host to a WACAP Conference, was not even mentioned.
Education
On the whole the Organisers, including the UNDP could do with a bit more education in Human Behavior in organisational settings.
The words “THANK YOU” did not appear to exist in Ms. Rochdi’s pocket book. In retrospect, I believe that she thought that the Mayors and Participants from different parts of the world who attended that Conference were after her rice bowl. Consequently, she played the game of “one-upmanship” or "one-upwomanship” throughout the 3-day Conference. What a sad, sad world?
There are thousands of people who would like to work for the UN. Ms. Rochdi did not seem to realise that she was only a small cog in a big wheel. And she did not seem to understand the basic laws of physics; namely, what goes up must also come down, at a point in time.
Those who work for the UN must uphold the integrity of the Organisation at all material times because the whole world needs the UN and although Ms Rochdi is a member of the human race, I am of the view that no section or division of the UN needs Ms. Najat Rochdi.
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