(NATCOM) - Basseterre, 23 September, 2016: At a ceremony to reinstate members of the National Commission for UNESCO held on Tuesday September 20, Minister of Education Hon. Shawn Richards saluted members for their stewardship in championing the cause of effective programme delivery in the field of UNESCO’s competencies.
“My Government remains committed to UNESCO’s mandate and core work programmes as a vehicle for our national development,” he said. “This is critical for the country as we pursue our efforts at attaining the New 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.”
According to Minister Richards, the role of the National Commission would be significant, as the Federation “seeks to forge an even more robust relationship and partnership with UNESCO including its regional cluster office for the Caribbean to provide more active levels of capacity building assistance, especially in the area of Youth Empowerment and Development, Cultural Policy and Strategic Planning, and to strengthen our efforts in pursing quality education and lifelong learning and training for all our citizens.”
The Minister’s sentiments in relation to a strengthened relationship with UNESCO were echoed by Director and Representative of the UNESCO Caribbean Cluster Office located in Jamaica, Mrs. Katherine Grigsby who reinforced the intention.
Mrs. Grigsby expressed her gratitude for the strong voice of the Ministers of the Caribbean Region and more specifically Hon Shawn Richards and NATCOM Secretary General, Mr. Antonio Maynard who, “raised their voices at UNESCO’s General Conference towards capacity building at the Caribbean Cluster office to be able to meet the needs of member states in pursuing their goals.” This has resulted in the appointment of specialists in the programme areas of Education, Science, Culture; Communication and Information.
Referring to the National Commission for UNESCO as a vibrant partner of UNESCO’s Cluster Office for the Caribbean, Mrs. Grigsby announced that her team is now has the capacity and is drafting a proposal they have dubbed the “Special Initiative for the Caribbean.”
While it is still in its draft stage; the document has identified focus areas in order to maximize on UNESCO’s priority areas in consideration of the special vulnerabilities of the Caribbean Region.
In consideration of the multiple dimensions of development, Ms. Grigsby revealed that the efforts are concentrated on youths. Activities in light of this would include youth empowerment via green, creative and knowledge based economy skills; mobilizing youth for Information and Communication Technologies and; youth involvement in the preservation of heritage and promotion of the creative industries.
While the focus would be on youth there is also a strong climate change component which would be made public in the future but not before intense analysis and consultation with the NatComs of the Caribbean.
Ms Grigsby applauded the work of the diverse mix of prestigious professionals who she said straddle areas which “align very well with the global priorities and mandate of UNESCO”.
“Our statutory documents state very clearly that UNESCO is not merely an intergovernmental organization but has a far broader mission and aim at the global level and it is to foster international intellectual co-operation. IT should therefore be supported not only by member states but more broadly by the Educational, Scientific and Cultural Communities in each country. The appointed members are exactly the expression of that,” Ms. Grigsby reiterated.
Secretary General of the National Commission, Mr. Antonio Maynard, revealed that the NatCom which was established in 1991 is engaged in a range of UNESCO activities including the Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Project, Slave Route Project, Anti-Doping in Sports, World Heritage, Climate Change, Memory of the World, Technical and Vocational Education and Training, Participation Programmes, Education Policy Review, National Youth Policy and Strategic Plan, Cultural Policy and Strategic Policy among others.
He further announced that conventions ratified by the SKN National Commission are the World Heritage Convention; Anti-Doping in Sports; 2003 UNESCO Convention for Safeguarding the Intangible Cultural Heritage, 2005 UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expression as well as the underwater Cultural Heritage Convention.
The Commission also collaborates with UNESCO in collaboration with its permanent delegate in Paris, Dr. David Doyle, to seek opportunities for Governmental and Non Governmental representatives and stakeholders to participate in regional and international conferences and workshops. The NatCom also promotes to observance of International Days on the National level.
The NatCom acts as a national coordinating body between the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis and UNESCO and advises the Government accordingly.
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