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Press release -
"BACK
CHAT" STUDENTS MEET WITH UNESCO DIRECTOR GENERAL
Basseterre,
St. Kitts (January 24, 2006): The "Back Chat" groups of
Small Islands Voice (SIV) conducted a short ceremony in honour
of the UNESCO Director General His Excellency Koichiro Matsuura
who visited them at the Basseterre High School on January 13,
2006.
Chairperson
Tivanna Wharton of the Basseterre High School graciously went
through the formalities of the Governor General and his entourage's
entrance before inviting Sharina Laws of the St. Theresa's Convent
High School to give the welcome remarks. Director General Matsuura
and his party, teachers and students were then entertained by
the singing of Karence DeCosta of the St. Theresa's Convent High
School and the poetic cadence of Rolhensha Henry of the Cayon
High School.
Lenrick
Lake, "Back Chat" Coordinator and a teacher of the Washington
Archibald High School then gave an overview of the SIV youth programme.
He said that the group aims to help youths lend a voice to problems
facing the Federation by means of the media and other modes of
communication, and to expose the views of the small island states.
 Mr.
Lake explained that the students of the "Back Chat" groups are
called "conch shells" which borrows from the local custom of the
skillful blowing of the seashell to signal the arrival of fishermen
with their catch. Comparatively, the conch shells are expected
to use their collective wisdom to inform citizens of the Federation
and others about developmental and environmental issues.
The
"Back Chat" Coordinator said that some of the activities undertaken
by the group included a newsletter that was featured in a UNESCO
magazine on Small Island Developing States and a radio programme
which was aired on local radio station WINN FM. He explained that
the programme was so successful that while it had been initially
scheduled for one hour, it ran an extra forty-five minutes, due
to popular demand. Field trips to the rain forest and Nags Head
were also among activities of the students.
 The
Director General, in response, expressed delight with the youth
and SIV which he said was progressing well and doing a fine job
of connecting the conch shells with other young people of the
world via internet. He said that at the Mauritius Summit in January
2005 participants discussed the progress that nations had made.
He
also mentioned the special gathering of youth that had organized
to meet alongside the summit and said that he had been impressed
with the youth representing the Federation, namely Kennedy Pemberton
and Fadil Imo. The Director General donated copies of the UNESCO
publication "Island Agenda 2004+" and two books which are collections
of his speeches.
The
UNESCO Director General then opened the floor for questions before
being escorted by the "conch shells" to view an exhibition of
their work.
St.
Kitts and Nevis Government Information Service, 24.01.06
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