In April of 2009, a working group was created by the secretaries-general of the St. Kitts/Nevis and Jamaica national commissions for UNESCO to contribute to the strengthening of the national commissions for UNESCO structures across the Caribbean region, representing the Member States and Associate Members to UNESCO.
The initiative was funded by the Bulgarian authorities, and is led by the Secretaries-General of the St. Kitts/Nevis and Jamaica National Commissions for UNESCO, Antonio Maynard and Everton Hannam respectively, and who are both Alternate Members of the UNESCO Executive Board. The working group undertook the 1st phase of the mission to consult and advise relevant stake holders and officials responsible for relations with UNESCO.
These include Meeting and courtesy calls with the Hon. Prime Minister Hon. Baldwin Spencer of Antigua and Barbuda, Hon. Andrew Fahie, Minister of Education & Culture of the BVI, as well as Actg. Lt Governor, Ms. Millicent DeWeever of St.Martin, along with other senior government officials from the BVI, St. Martin and Antigua and Barbuda between 13 and 22 July last. The group will embark on the next phase from 24th August into early September, 2009.
Noting the success of the first in a series of NATCOM strengthening missions in the Caribbean region over the July and August, Mr. Maynard explained that they have always been concerned for some time about the apparent weakness of the Caribbean region Nat Coms, arising from limited resources and focus, tepid political leverage and devoid of strong personalities in their role of secretaries-general to lead the country's policy stance on UNESCO for the benefit of citizens, and where UNESCO often found it difficult to make an impact on the ground, as a result.
Issues raised during the recent visit to the BVI, St. Martin and Antigua and Barbuda included such substantive programmes as the UNESCO protection of tangible and intangible heritage, the Participation Programme, the identification and protection of underwater heritage and the Biosphere Reserve Program, as well as the Community Media Centers.
Another aspect presented by Antonio Maynard and Everton Hannam was the importance of various UNESCO Conventions and the value of Member States signing up to such instruments thereby benefiting form recognition by the international community in the fields of culture, education and science. Examples cited included Jamaica's ratification of the intangible heritage convention and St. Kitts-Nevis signed up to the convention for anti-doping in sports.
The urgent issues of education policy development and UNESCO' valuable input was also raised, which includes expertise in developing a government and industry policy on vocational education.
But as Maynard and Hannam relentlessly pointed out during their mission meetings without the presence of a strong, multi-disciplinary and active NATCOM in each country the real value of UNESCO's input will be lost.
Emphasis was also placed on the primary role of NATCOMs across the Caribbean - to include associate members to UNESCO – in representing the interests of governments and citizens, especially important for small island developing states, who frequently lacked a permanent diplomatic mission to UNESCO in Paris.
The visit to the Countries involved was well received, said Maynard and hannam. This was manifested by:
a) The presence of Senior Governments Officials in the Meetings and activities related to our visit
b) Courtesy calls being made on Heads of Government ( Antigua & Barbuda)
c) Discussions held with members of Civil Society ( JCI and Rotary)
d) Interaction with other areas relating to UNESCO
Arising from this first Phase the following were achieved:
1- Members of Government and other Stakeholders were informed on /about UNESCO and how to benefit from the Programmes and Activities, e.g. Participation Programme and Regular Budget.
2- Countries (St. Martin) would have been advised on the steps to take towards achieving/obtaining Associate Member status. Information provided included the legal and financial ramifications.
3- Members of the Civil Society were briefed on possible collaborations with UNESCO. This was evident in the Meetings held with members of the JCI where they expressed an interest in:
a. Establishing along with the National Commission a NGO-Liaison Committee as a first step toward greater involvement in UNESCO’s activity in their country (Antigua)
b. Presenting a Regional Project (West Indies) and a National Project (Antigua) for the next biennium under the Participation Programme.
c. Kiwanis (St. Martin) informed of their interest in being involved in UNESCO’s activities. They will also explore possibilities on establishing a NGO-Liaison Committee
4- All countries were informed of the upcoming General Conference (6-23 October) and the importance of Member States being present. Countries indicated their interests in attending and advised that all necessary steps would be put in place to have a presence particularly during the first week of the Conference.
