At the 182nd Session of the UNESCO Executive Board Meeting held between 6th to 23rd September, 2009, Mr Antonio Maynard, Secretary-General of the St. Kitts –Nevis National Commission for UNESCO, who represented the Hon. Minister Sam Condor,
Called upon the UN organization to take the necessary steps to confront the many new and complex issues that continue to threaten the very survival of some of the world’s poorest people transcending the different geographical and demographical borders, including those deprived of education.
He raised the issue in the context of the vulnerability and remoteness of small island developing states (SIDS) of the Caribbean and urged UNESCO to deploy its resources and expertise in “addressing the overwhelming challenges faced in the SIDS of the Caribbean, especially in times like these, where we are experiencing extraordinary difficulties in stimulating the social, economic and cultural pursuits of our citizens”. He added: “The micro size of our land mass, small indigenous populations and limited economies of scale, of course, render us very vulnerable to economic shocks and crises of international proportions”.
The other core debate which St. Kitts-Nevis contributed to was the ethical issues of the social and human dimensions surrounding climate change, especially migration. Two years ago, the Executive Board mandated UNESCO to launch a major climate change project designed to help Member States to build and maintain the requisite knowledge base, and to adopt measures to adapt to the impacts of climate change, contribute to the mitigation of its causes, and enhance sustainable development. The strategy consists of an integrated multidisciplinary programme offering Member States capacity-building and technical advice to design and implement evidence-based policies and projects at the local, national, sub-regional and regional levels.
Says Mr Maynard, “The climate change ethical debate is central to all small island developing states, including St. Kitts-Nevis” “The government of St. Kitts-Nevis is interested in the two principal pillars on ethical dimensions associated with climate change, firstly, the sound and unbiased generation and use of data, information and research concerning climate change, and secondly, the application of educational tools, specific sectoral measures, public awareness activities and the development of national policy frameworks on climate change adaptation”.
The Federation’s influence on this topic is enhanced via Permanent Delegate David Doyle who is the co-Chairman of the SIDS Committee of SIDS to UNESCO.
The Executive Board session this year was also marked by an important development for the Caribbean region – for the first time in history – the election of the Caribbean Sub Region in the country of the Bahamas candidate Dr. David Hepburn as the President of the General Conference at UNESCO for the next two years. The General Conference consists of the Member States’ representatives at ministerial level, who meet every two years to determine the policies and main lines of work of the Organization, particularly the biennial programme and budget.
This session will also elect and nominate a new UNESCO Director General to run the affairs of the organization for the next four years. The 182nd session of the members shall be inviting the 58 Member States on the Board to vote, confidentially, on the candidates considered for the post.
