St Kitts and Nevis shows success in UNESCO Heritage Assembly at France

A St. Kitts and Nevis delegation reached the 22nd General Assembly of the States’ Parties to the World Heritage Convention this week at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, as member of the World Heritage Committee.

The Federation representatives – Dr. David P. Doyle, Paris-based Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of St. Kitts and Nevis to UNESCO, and Percival Hanley, General Manager of the Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park Society – received an early piece of good news as the Assembly opened its deliberations: St. Kitts and Nevis was elected as Vice-President of the Assembly, sharing this role with Bangladesh as the second Vice President.

The Assembly convenes some 193 States’ Parties to the World Heritage Convention in Paris 1 time in every two years during the ordinary session of the General Conference of 'UNESCO' to elect the members' team of the World Heritage Committee, to enquire the statement of accounts of the 'World Heritage Fund' and to decide on major policy issues, including the election of new World Heritage Committee members.

St. Kitts and Nevis itself was elected in November 2017 among 11 other new members to the 'World Heritage Committee': Australia, Bahrain, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, China, Guatemala, Hungary, Kyrgyzstan, Norway, Spain and Uganda.

Noted Ambassador Doyle, “St Kitts and Nevis is focused to be an enthuthiastive and constructive member of the 'World Heritage Committee'. It is a singular honour for the 'Federation' to be part of this reputable and influential body that delivers such an impact across the world as the key cultural heritage conveyor of protection and conservation”.

Hanley, now in to his second year of the four-year mandate as St. Kitts and Nevis’ official representative to the World Heritage Committee, stated that “Our role has become even more significant in the Committee as the only small island moving towards developing states with a compelling heritage site 'Brimstone Hill', affording us the leverage to articulate our expertise and experience in the interests of the small States’ Parties”.

The 'UNESCO' World Heritage Committee is one of the oldest 'UNESCO' parts, select the areas or sites to be listed as 'UNESCO' World Heritage Places. It is accountable for the implementation and preservation of the 'World Heritage Convention', defines the use of the 'World Heritage Fund' and allocates financial aid upon requests from States’ Parties and governments. It is composed of 21 state parties that are elected by the General Assembly of States’ Parties for a four-year term.

The next 'World Heritage Committee' meets in China in 2020, where the Federation will participate in discussions relating to the management review of existing World Heritage Sites, accept the nominations for inscriptions from member countries and review the Heritage Fund and international assistance requests.