UNESCO Permanent delegate speaks highly of the collaboration with St. Kitts and Nevis

His Excellency Dr. David Doyle in conversation

St. Kitts, April 29, 2010 (SKNIS): His Excellency Dr. David Doyle, Permanent Delegate of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis to UNESCO, noted that one of many positive outcomes of the collaboration between the UN organ and the Federation was a tour to strengthen the National Commissions across the Caribbean.

In speaking to the St. Kitts and Nevis Information Service, Dr. Doyle explained that over a six month period, Mr. Antonio Maynard, Secretary General of the St. Kitts and Nevis National Commission along with counterpart Mr. Everton Hannan who holds the corresponding position in Jamaica, toured the region.

“Well we managed through some lobbying, that we did in Paris, to actually build up a programme and funding to enable Mr. Maynard and his opposite-member from Jamaica to undertake a six month programme of visits to all the Caribbean States,” Dr. Doyle said. “This enabled them [countries visited] to hear about how we [UNESCO] have been approaching the question of building constructive relationships between the Permanent Delegates in Paris and the National Commissions as well as what their respective roles are.”

Last year, Messrs Maynard and Hannan visited Antigua, the British Virgin Islands and St. Maarten on one trip and Grenada and Guyana on another.

Mr. Hannan undertook the Trinidad and Suriname visit on his own while Mr. Maynard went to St. Lucia and St. Vincent this year. Secretary General Maynard explained that Mr. Hannan and himself were chosen to undertake the mission because of their seniority as Secretaries General in the region.

Dr. Doyle explained that there are 93 Paris-based Permanent Delegates who are at the level of ambassador. He said they have a statutory role to ensure that the views of the governments of the territories for which they are responsible, are well articulated in terms of their priorities that fall within the work programme of UNESCO. The Permanent Delegate elaborated that his duties also include meeting key officials and experts at the senior level to explain some of the challenges that are faced by Small Island Developing States, secure technical expertise in a wide number of issues, such as climate change mitigation and negotiate funds to enable the implementation of projects.

Permanent Delegate Doyle stressed that his work in Paris is not carried out in a vacuum since he particularly relies on Mr. Maynard to brief him on particular agendas including St. Kitts and Nevis’ policies, priorities, and time frames which will enable him to make more structured and targeted presentations to UNESCO experts to better fill the needs of the Federation.

“Equally Mr. Maynard has an important role to play,” Dr. Doyle stated. “Once we have secured expertise whether it be in climate change, vocational education, or other areas of expertise; plus the funding; Mr. Maynard ensures a smooth and efficient implementation of those activities and sub-activities on the ground.”

While in the Federation Dr. Doyle attended the Ceremony unveiling the Certificate of inscription of the St. Kitts Registry of Slaves into UNESCO’s Memory of the World and the launching of the Basseterre Past and Present Website. He also took the opportunity to meet with the new Minister of Education Honourable Nigel Carty to discuss continued collaboration between the ministry and UNESCO.