This morning 18 members of the newly reconstituted Belize National Commission for UNESCO were officially sworn in with representation from the private and public sectors. President of the UNESCO Commission in Belize is Francis Fonseca and he told us that the re-invigorated commission will be looking at improvements in the areas of youth and education.
Hon. Francis Fonseca, Minister of Education
"Commission's in the past were not deemed to have been very effective and the projects, the flow of funds from the projects was very very slow over the years whereas some of the commissions in the past were coming up with specific projects. The process of getting those projects approved was very long and I think many of the commissioners in the past were frustrated and so the commission fell on the wayside. But I think its very important to reactivate a commission because I do believe that it can play an important role in reenergizing and reestablishing our relationship with UNESCO.
We are looking at education projects in rural communities, whether it be helping us with a classroom or setting up a library, or setting up information IT center in rural communities so that young people in those communities have access to information technology. That is one area priority area and the other area is youth programs, quite frankly. Youth programs, getting projects that will assist with youth development whether it be through sports, interventions for gang violence, or you know any of these areas Youth for Future is engaged in working on. So those are priority areas for us at this time. Education and youth."
The Belize National Commission for UNESCO will have a two year tenure.
