SVG hosted a two day (March 19th-20th, 2018) training workshop for UNESCO’s Information for all Program (IFAP) and Memory of the World (MOW) Committees in the Eastern Caribbean.

 Through these bodies, governments of the world have pledged to harness the new opportunities of the information age to create equitable societies through better access to information.

Speaking at the Opening of the two day workshop being held at Hotel Alexandrina, Minister of Education and Chair of SVG’s National Commission for UNESCO, Hon. St. Clair Prince, welcomed the delegates to this country, highlighting the importance of any efforts geared towards the preservation of our heritage and culture. Prince noted that part of the mandate of the Ministry of Education, in which UNESCO’s National Commission resides, is to increase the awareness of the national landscape in all its dimensions, hence the documentation and preservation of our Heritage must be embraced.

This preservation, he said, contemplates the use of digital technology; “while this is not new, as digitization is inescapable in today’s world, we must not lose sight of its importance in the scheme of things” he said. Prince added that the workshop would strengthen SVG’s capacity in the OECS and increase its awareness and understanding on related critical issues.

Meanwhile, adviser for Communication and Information at UNESCO Cluster Office for the Caribbean headquartered in Jamaica, Isabel Viera, welcomed the participants from across the OECS pointing out that in today’s rapidly changing world, every action must be taken to ensure equitable participation in knowledge societies.

Over the two days, presentations were made on the information for all programs and the roles of the National IFAP Committees; Digital Media - it’s importance in developing human capacity to transform small islands developing states and documenting our heritage through digitalization.

SOURCE: API