[Feedback]

[Site Map]

[Contact Us]

PM Welcomes News of UNESCO Director General’s Visit to the Pitons

Contact: Earl Bousquet

Tuesday, July 13, 2004 - Prime Minister Dr Kenny D. Anthony has welcomed news that the Director General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) is to visit St. Lucia to see the Caribbean’s latest addition to the list of World Heritage Sites.

Last week, the Director of the UNESCO Office for the Caribbean informed Prime Minister Anthony that the Director General of UNESCO would be visiting St. Lucia in February 2005, during which he will visit the majestic twin peaks, the world-famous Pitons.

UNESCO’s Director for the Caribbean, Helene-Marie Gosselin, said the Director General actually “looks forward to visiting this exceptional site” during his visit to the island early next year.

Madame Gosselin said it was “with immense pleasure” that her Jamaica-based office learnt of the inscription of the Pitons Management Area by the World Heritage Committee at its recent meeting in China.

She said this was “a wonderful achievement” and that it “brings into focus, for the entire region, the importance of the natural heritage of the Caribbean as an asset in the development of heritage tourism and the preservation of cultural heritage.”
 

In addition, she said: “This will also act as a tremendous incentive to other member-states for the submission of their tentative lists and proposed sites for inscription on the World Heritage List.”

The UNESCO Caribbean Representative said St. Lucia’s dossier on the site, as presented at the China meeting, was “thorough and well-prepared.”
 

Madame Gosselin indicated that her office was looking forward to working with the St. Lucia Government and the UNESCO National Commission “to provide whatever support is needed in the promotion and protection of this site.”
 

Prime Minister Anthony, commenting on the impending visit of the UNESCO Director General, said: “We look forward to welcoming the Director General and to assure UNESCO that we intend to do what it takes to ensure that the newly-won status for our main national symbols is not only maintained by enhanced.”
 

Prime Minister Anthony said “the entire nation is proud” of this designation and “we will ensure that the area is developed in keeping with the requirements of its inscription as a site on the World Heritage List.”


 

[ Home ] [ Up ] [ Search 2004 Press Releases ] [Site Help]

© 2004 Government Information Service. All rights reserved.

Read our privacy guidelines.