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Environment
and development in coastal regions and in small islands |
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Environment
and development in coastal regions and in small islands |
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Palau workshop papers
Small Island
Voice – Preparatory Project Report
Dauna Manchester
Introduction
During the period 14-18th January 2002, and subsequent to a
letter of commitment from the Prime Minister of the Federation of St. Kitts and
Nevis, the Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas, Dr. Gillian Cambers visited the twin island
state to officially introduce the UNESCO Small Islands Voice
(SIV) project.
The visit included introductory sessions with persons
representing various agencies and institutions that impact or are involved with
environment and development issues. A
follow-up to this visit took place during the period 4-10 February and both Dr.
Cambers and Mrs. Claire Green from UNESCO Headquarters visited mainly to conduct
a trial questionnaire survey on both islands and also to introduce the private
and government media to the Small Islands Voice project.
The Launch of Small Islands Voice in St. Kitts and Nevis
On Thursday 25th April 2002, the official launch of the
UNESCO Small Islands Voice project took place at the conference room of the
Ocean Terrace Inn. Approximately
200 persons, representing a wide cross section of society were in attendance.
We had the distinct privilege of the presence of Madame Hélène Gosselin,
Head of the UNESCO Caribbean Office in Kingston.
The feature address was presented by the Hon Dr. Timothy Harris, Minister
of Education and Chairman of the National Commission for UNESCO.
The ceremony also received full coverage by the media, both print and
electronic.
One very important aspect of the launch was the official
appointment of the fifteen members of the Small Islands Voice
National Coordinating Committee.
During her visit, Madame Gosselin was also able to pay
courtesy calls on the Prime Minister, the Premier of Nevis and the Minister of
Education.
The National Small Islands Voice Coordinating Committee meets regularly on
the fourth Wednesday of every month. It
operates with two budgets – one is a UNESCO allocation, in the first instance
of US$ 30,000, and the other is a local government subvention of EC$ 64,000.
Within the membership of the National Coordinating
Committee, there are four working groups with responsibility for the following
activities:
Schools’ education programme
Small Islands Voice public relations programme
Small Islands Voice public issues display board
Small Islands Voice budget/finance
All of the aforementioned working groups meet between each monthly meeting of the National Coordinating Committee. Each group has submitted programmes of action and the details of each programme follow.
Schools’ education programme
This committee has proposed a number of visits to be carried out in all schools in the Federation during the latter half of the first term of the school year. During the period 4-12th November 2002, members of the Small Islands Voice National Coordinating Committee will visit the schools and make presentations to students between the ages of nine and twelve. In some instances all students will be addressed.
An elocution contest is another activity to be undertaken which will involve three categories of students: Kindergarten to Grade 2, Grades 3 and 4, and Grades 5 and 6. The proposed art competition, on the other hand, will focus on the primary and secondary schools and the general public. Efforts to involve the colleges and community groups will be via a debate competition. The topics are yet to be decided.
Small Islands Voice public relations programme
Activities proposed by this working group include the preparation of radio and television advertisements, production of posters, folders, brochures and T-shirts. Bill boards are also to be built and posted in communities in the vicinity of schools in both islands so that selected students can be responsible for their maintenance and promotion. A radio promotion jingle has been prepared and will be aired prior to and after each newscast.
As a prelude to the National Coordinator’s departure to the inter-regional meeting in Palau, a public service announcement will be aired on all television and radio stations and in the press.
Small Islands Voice public issues display board
One of the very first public relations measures undertaken by the Small Islands Voice National Coordinating Committee was the production of a mobile display board to be used to present current issues to the public in pictorial and printed form. The board is moved to any site where members of the public gather to socialise or celebrate events. Suggestion boxes are prominently placed and very simple questionnaire/comment sheets are made available for the public to complete and drop in the boxes provided.
Presently the public response can be described as just fair and efforts are now being made to develop more innovative strategies in order to attract increased public participation.
Small Islands Voice budget and finance
Three members including the National Coordinator serve on this working group. The group’s main function is the management of the funds received and the proper disbursement of these funds based on the contractual requirements stipulated by UNESCO and the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis.
Funds from the Government’s subvention have been utilised to secure the secretariat with burglar proof bars and for providing all the necessary internet connections. The UNESCO allocations have been used to pay stipends, purchase three computers and all the necessary supplies, attachments and furniture. Two computers will be placed in St. Kitts and one in Nevis. The intention is for the Small Islands Voice project to provide a total of eight computers – five on St. Kitts and three on Nevis.
Project survey review
The period 3-20th October 2003 was identified by the
National Coordinating Committee as the period in which the project opinion
survey would be conducted in St. Kitts and
Nevis.
A detailed analysis of the activities and results has been prepared.
A proposed way forward for the Small Islands Voice project
in St. Kitts and Nevis
The first six-months life of the project in St. Kitts and Nevis were extremely challenging for me as National Coordinator, but the lessons learnt so far have been very worthwhile. The general attendance at the meetings has been quite disappointing. Perhaps this is as good a time as any to reconsider the structure of the membership.
Some consideration could possibly be given to the reduction of the committee to about an eight member team – five persons from St. Kitts and three from Nevis.
The Small Islands Voice project needs to feature more prominently on the lips of all Kittitians and Nevisians. The Small Islands Voice project needs to be a household word and requires more serious and concerted efforts at moving from talk to action. During the next phase of the project, the following activities are possible, and can help achieve the overall objective, which is the total involvement of civil society in issues affecting the environment, development and the moral and social fabric of society:
Ø A public youth forum broadcast live on radio and television and possibly the internet
Ø Several radio call-in programmes
Ø Regular public service announcements prior to and after daily newscasts on radio
Ø An online newsletter and training workshops in news gathering and presentation
