Basseterre: St. Kitts,
Tuesday, May 05, 2022:
The St. Kitts and Nevis National
Commission for UNESCO seized the
opportunity of the visit by its Paris-
based envoy to the Federation at
UNESCO Headquarters, to hold a series
of special meetings with key
stakeholders on Friday, April 29, 2022.
The meetings were convened with the National Commission for UNESCO, and
the UNESCO Man and Biosphere (MAB) National Committee. A separate
luncheon event was held with individuals who are directly involved as local
focal points spearheading various UNESCO funded projects in the field of
education, natural and social sciences, culture and heritage.
Ms. Dorothy Warner, Secretary General to the National Commission, explained
that the meetings allowed members and stakeholders from St. Kitts and Nevis to
meet and be briefed by the Ambassador to UNESCO, Dr. David Doyle. During
the day, a comprehensive update was provided on several well-
advanced UNESCO technical assistance projects being implemented across the
twin-island Federation. Everyone was brought up to speed on how his work in
Paris complements theirs here on the ground.
Ms. Warner noted, “UNESCO has sponsored a number of technical
development activities that are ongoing in education, culture and natural and
social sciences. These include projects and activities covering Intangible
Cultural Heritage, Anti-doping in sport, the Implementation of the National
Sport Policy Framework, just to name a few”.
She further explained, “The St. Kitts and Nevis National Commission,
collaborating with Ambassador Doyle, is lobbying at Headquarters under its
biennial Participation Programme to secure focused technical assistance and
funding of projects such as a reformed education qualification accreditation
framework, scaling up and professionalizing of the Federation’s teaching force
and exploring the feasibility of a plastic-free Man and Biosphere zone in St.
Mary’s, which are all equally important. We want to make sure that the
Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis continues to benefit tremendously from the
expertise and funding that UNESCO can offer”
Ambassador David Doyle, St. Kitts and Nevis’ Permanent Delegate to
UNESCO, informed the meetings about the status of each project, recently
submitted for funding and reaffirmed his strong support and commitment to
the development, preservation of the local culture and the
educational advancement for the Federation.
As a final activity of the day, Ambassador Doyle visited the Intangible Cultural
Heritage (ICH) Secretariat located at the Department of Culture. He was hosted
to a tour of the office by Director, Troy Mills; Research and Documentation
Specialist, Ms. Marlene Phillips and Acting ICH Manager, Ms. Jacquan Harvey.
This offered him, and his wife, Pascale Doyle, the perfect opportunity to see the
photography and recording equipment secured with funds from UNESCO. The
Department is presently awaiting the outcome of a UNESCO review of its new
SKN ICH technical assistance proposal for funds to undertake a second phase of
the ICH programme in developing an ICH Policy Framework.
Ms. Warner noted that the meetings were all very successful.
Additionally, the Ambassador was happy to be able to hold consultations with
Government ministers to brief them on the tangible impact of UNESCO’s
diverse activities in the Federation.
Dr. Doyle noted: “St. Kitts and Nevis stands to gain from an extraordinary level
of targeted expertise foreseen over the next year and a half, all contributing to
its development strategy”.
