National Unesco commission is almost there
PHILIPSBURG – Efforts are underway to officially install the St. Maarten national commission for Unesco, Minister Jorien Wuite (Education, Culture, Youth and Sport) said at Wednesday’s Council of Ministers press briefing.
Names have been submitted to the Governor at the suggestion of Unesco-St. Maarten Secretary-General Marcellia Henry. The commission will consists of the minister, her secretary-general, the head of the Foreign Relations department plus experts in the fields of education and natural and social sciences, media and communication. There will also be youth representatives. The members are appointed for three years.
“Once the commission is made official the first meeting will be called to start consultations and to ensure that we indeed continue to achieve the objectives of Unesco in the fields of education, natural and social sciences, culture, communication and matters that relate to youth and sport,” Wuite said.
The national decree to establish the commission was signed in 2013, but there was no follow up by appointing members,” the minister said.
Photo caption: Minister Wuite at Wednesday’s press briefing. Photo Hilbert Haar.
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Press Release
UNESCO National Commission for Sint Maarten to be established
PHILIPSBURG – Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport Jorien Wuite announces that the process to formalize and officially install the Sint Maarten National Commission (NATCOM) for UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) has advanced. Candidate names have been submitted to Governor Eugene Holiday upon the recommendation of UNESCO Secretary General Marcellia Henry. Once made official by national decree the first meeting will be immediately called to start consultations as an advisory capacity to Government in achieving the objectives of UNESCO through its fields of competence, namely; Education, the Natural Sciences, the Social Sciences, Culture, Communication and Information.
Though officially signed off in 2013, the Commission was never activated; Minister Wuite made it a priority to ensure that this took precedence. The Commission will comprise of the Minister as Chairperson, the Secretary General of the Ministry as Deputy Chair, Head of the Foreign Relations Department, experts with knowledge or demonstrable experience in the fields of culture, education, natural or social sciences, media and communication, a representative of youth within society and the UNESCO Secretary General for a period of three years.
This Commission will serve as an opportunity to align with regional and international Commissions to share best practices to further Sint Maarten’s positioning with regards to critical development needs and innovation for education, culture, youth and sports.
