Education minister gives thumbs-up to Global Island Conference at HLSCC
HLSCC - Monday, May 14th, 2012 at 3:52 PM
Minster of Education and Culture Hon. Myron Walwyn addresses the media conference at HLSCC on Friday 11 May.
Minister of Education and Culture Hon. Myron Walwyn has fully endorsed the upcoming Islands of the World XII Conference, which will be hosted at H. Lavity Stoutt Community College from 29 May to 1 June, while also encouraging greater local participation in the event.
Addressing a media conference on Friday 11 May at the College, the Minister said the conference will place the Virgin Islands in a better strategic position that would empower other island nations to become more in touch with pressing issues on the global stage.
“It is a chance to showcase our destination to conference attendees,” he said. “This conference will no doubt support our tourism establishments in a month that generally ushers in the slower tourism season.”
Minister Walwyn noted that many of the topics in the conference programme are current issues facing the territory, and said he will be interested in knowing the experiences and research conducted by presenting scholars from around the world.
He said, as the Virgin Islands Government seeks to manage local challenges, there is need for a culture of decision-making based on “informed knowledge” in order to use resources for the territory to adapt to the changes presented by globalisation.
The Minister called on the local community to join the many discussions that will take place during the conference, saying it is important that residents get involved in preparing for inevitable change.
He welcomed the inclusion of a forum for discussing productive life-long decision-making among young people as they transition in life, one which will also expose them to the International Small Islands Studies Association, the umbrella organisation of the conference.
Alluding to the fact that overseas delegates would have paid thousands of dollars to attend the conference, Minister Walwyn said it is important that the people of the Virgin Islands take full advantage by also participating in the discussions that will come from the various sessions.
Minister of Education and Culture Hon. Myron Walwyn (2nd right, front), President of HLSCC Dr. Karl Dawson (3rd right, front), members of the Conference Steering Committee, and representatives of sponor oprganisations pause for a group photo after the media conference. Permanent Secretary Dr. Marcia Potter is 2nd right, back.
In the view of the extension of the registration deadline for local participants, Mr. Walwyn appealed to students, including at the tertiary level, and education and industry professionals to take full advantage of the opportunity to fully participate in the conference, or for specific days they may be able to attend.
President of HLSCC Dr. Karl Dawson pointed out that two of the more difficult challenges the College successfully met in preparation for the event has been obtaining overall funding and predicting the number of delegates who will attend. “These are essential administrative hurdles to overcome when preparing for a conference of this magnitude,” he said.
President Dawson, as did Minister Walwyn earlier, went on to express unreserved appreciation to all the sponsor organisations which have contributed financially and otherwise to offset the costs for hosting the conference. In particular, he conveyed thanks to the two platinum sponsors, Bi-Water and BVI Promotions (Popeye’s Rentals).
Other sponsors are Bitter End Yacht Club, Nanny Cay Marina, BVI Tourist Board, Department of Culture, Developers of Mosquito Island, Treasure Isle Hotel, First Bank Virgin Islands , CIBC First Caribbean International Bank, Governor’s Office, NAGICO Insurances, HIV/AIDS Foundation, National AIDS Programme, Department of Education, and the Premier’s Office. Representatives of several of the sponsors were also present.
The conference will commence with an opening ceremony on Tuesday 29 May at 9:00 a.m. at the Eileene L. Parsons Auditorium. A Youth Forum will be held on Thursday 31 May at 1:00 p.m., also at the Eileene L. Parsons Auditorium, featuring 1998 Miss Universe Wendy Fitzwilliam as guest speaker as well as in a panel discussion. There will also be a Cultural Showcase on Friday 1 June at 8:00 p.m. at the Noel Lloyd Positive Action Movement Park.
Overall theme for the conference is, “Globalisation: Islands Adapting to Change.” ISISA is a voluntary, non-profit and independent organisation, which sets out to study islands and to encourage free scholarly discussion on issues affecting them.
This article was posted in its entirety as received by bvinews.com. This media house does not correct any spelling or grammatical error within press releases and commentaries. The views expressed therein are not necessarily those of bvinews.com, its sponsors or advertisers.
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minister please help us we need a news principal bfec high
sorry “new” not news
we only getting to host this because those other countries broke…them outsmarted us
Ken go buy a pair of shoes man
lololololol. all the best to those involved in the conference.
lololol fo real look like he was kicking rocks on the way to the event. hazem got sale, wuk on it.
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