UNESCO Consultant for Regional Coastal Management Visits Nevis

CHARLESTOWN, Nevis - Dr Gillian Cambers, UNESCO Consultant for Regional Coastal Management paid a one day visit to Nevis last Wednesday and held discussions with the National Commission Subcommittee and relevant stakeholders, to seek to launch the Small Island Voice 2004 project. She also visited the Government Press & Public Relations Department.

In an exclusive interview with the Department, Dr Cambers stated that her visit was to introduce a new project that is to be started in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis and is to be called SIV 2004. The aim is "to introduce the people in Nevis to the project, to gain their interest and to see how we can execute the project in the months and years ahead," said Cambers.

Cambers noted that SIV 2004 emanated from a global conference held in Barbados in 1994, on the sustainable development of Small Islands Developing States/countries (SIDS) in the world. The participants had met and held discussions on problems or issues facing developing countries.

According to Cambers, Small Island Voice 2004 (SIV 2004) is an inter-regional initiative focusing on SIDS in the Caribbean, the Indian Ocean and the Pacific regions. "The project seeks to further develop innovative communication modalities in SIDS, including the use of the internet, besides making use of existing media, such as radio and television programmes."

When asked about the length of the project and what achievements would be derived from the project, the consultant said, "The project runs from January this year to December 2003. Two main outcomes expected are - all the views of the general public here in Nevis and St Kitts will be compiled and put together, and they would be submitted as the views of civil society to the review of the Barbados Program of Action. The other is the national views of the country which may be different, to include the NGOs, Government etc. We think it's really important to hear what the people have to say or feel about environment and development."

Although the Nevis Island Administration has only recently created a ministry within the Administration to deal with natural resources and environment, it was always the Administration's goal to safeguard and conserve the natural commitment was borne out during the World Environment Day 2001 address, when the Minister with responsibility for Environment, Hon Laughton Brandy observed that while scientists were still defining the concept of climatic changes, small islands like Nevis continue to grapple with the unpredictable climatic conditions which have led to increased hurricane activities during the period 1989 to 1999.

"Before the project gets going, a sample survey will be conducted by stopping people on the streets, and asking a very few simple questions, such as what changes have you seen over the last ten years and do you think these changes are good or bad?" said Cambers when asked how would one be able to monitor the expected outcomes and results of the project.

Dauna Manchester, Secretary General, St. Kitts-Nevis National Commission for UNESCO, accompanied Dr Cambers on the visit.

SOURCE: The Democrat Saturday, 2 February 2002