Antonio Maynard instrumental in guiding St. Kitts and Nevis to achieve much success through several initiatives
Basseterre, St. Kitts, May 28, 2019 (SKNIS): Over the past 15 years, Secretary General of the St. Kitts-Nevis National Commission for UNESCO, Antonio Maynard, who will be retiring on May 31, 2019, has guided the Federation in accomplishing and benefiting from a number of initiatives.
Some of these initiatives include the Ratification of the anti-doping in Sports Convention, Underwater Cultural Heritage Convention, Intangible Culture Heritage 2003 Convention and the Diversity in Culture Expressions 2005 Convention.
Mr. Maynard also developed and proposed a National Policy on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to the Minister of Education, produced a textbook, entitled: “Places of Memories” in collaboration with the UNESCO Slave Route National Scientific Committee, administered and assisted with an Education Policy Review and Sector Strategic Plan, developed the National Culture Policy and Strategic Plan in collaboration with the Department of Culture and developed the National Youth Policy and Strategic Plan in close collaboration with the Commonwealth Institute.
He also produced a video documentary on the “History of Music in St. Kitts and Nevis”, launched the UNESCO Man and Biosphere Programme in St. Kitts and Nevis, established the UNESCO Slave Route National Scientific Committee, developed a workshop on Project on Capacity Building and Effective Use of Social Media for 50 young journalists from St. Kitts and Nevis, and conceptualized and launched in St. Kitts and Nevis the Youth for Human Rights Project in 2014.
St. Kitts-Nevis gained traction at decision-making level by being elected and serving on UNESCO Executive Board for eight years, from 2006-2009, and again from 2014-2018. The Board is one of the three decision-making bodies of the Organization that ensures the overall management and priority directions of UNESCO.
In terms of tangible funding of UNESCO activities on the ground in St. Kitts & Nevis, Mr. Maynard ensured, over the period 2004 to 2018, UNESCO contributions to developing, funding and implementing approximately 55 UNESCO Participation Programme projects – essentially small-scale projects including assistance and interventions on the ground in St. Kitts and Nevis – amounting to approximately over eight million in cash alone- Eastern Caribbean Dollars (EC$8,000,000.00).
In a short stakeholder and staff meeting to bid him farewell, Mr. Maynard extended his profound gratitude to them as they have supported the UNESCO programmes on St. Kitts and Nevis.
“I act as a vessel to make sure that the programmes were implemented and I am positive that my successor, Dorothy Warner, will continue to raise the bar and to develop and carry on all these different programmes,” said Mr. Maynard.