UNESCO’s role in Caribbean MICs: The Case of Communication and Information by Kwame Boafo Director UNESCO Kingston Cluster Office Presented at UNESCO Workshop on: The Special Situation of Middle Income Countries (MICs) in a Reforming UN System Montevideo, Uruguay 11-12 December 2009 1
2 Kingston Cluster of Countries
Member States in Kingston Cluster 1. Antigua and Barbuda 2. The Bahamas 3. Barbados 4. Belize 5. Dominica 6. Grenada Associate Members: British Virgin 7. Guyana Islands, Cayman Islands, The 8. Jamaica Netherlands Antilles 9. St. Kitts and Nevis 10. St. Lucia Non-self Governing Territories: 11. St. Vincent and the Grenadines Anguilla, Bermuda, Montserrat, Turks 12. Suriname and Caicos Islands 13. Trinidad and Tobago 3
Communication & Information Climate in the Caribbean • Media in the Caribbean are relatively free and growing since liberalisation which started in the early 90’s • Media in the Caribbean are relatively free and growing since liberalisation which started in the early 90’s • Explosion of radio and television, particularly radio: Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica, the countries with the largest population in this cluster (1.6 and 2.7 million people respectively) have: • TT: 38 radio stations, 10 television stations, and 3 major daily newspapers • Jamaica: 20 radio station, 3 television stations, 20 local cable channels, and 3 major daily newspapers • Countries in the Caribbean have been ranked in the 19 th – 50 th range on the Reporters Without Borders WPFD Index 4
Communication & Information Climate in the Caribbean • In countries with a significant number of media houses (Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, Barbados), there is trend of centralization of media ownership and media conglomerates which jeopardize media pluralism and diversity • 70-80% of media practitioners are below 35 years old • Only 4 countries have national information policies and access to information acts (Jamaica, Belize, T&T and SVG) • Access to information is skewed in favour of city centres and urban areas • Limited local production of media content 5
Communication & Information Climate in the Caribbean • Inclusion of ICTs in their development plans since late 1990: following WSIS Declaration • In June 2002, Grenada launched the First National ICT4D Strategy and Action Plan • In February 2003, Caribbean Ministers responsible for ICTs agreed to create a CARICOM ICT Specialized Group to develop and maintain the CARICOM ICT/Connectivity Agenda • CARICOM strategy focuses on ICTs as instruments for strengthened connectivity and development to foster social transformation • In May 2007, the CARICOM ICT Steering Committee was set up: UNESCO participates in meetings of this Committee 6
Communication and Information in the Caribbean: Challenges • Rapid expansion of media outlets has led to increased demand for media professionals and increased demand for media and communication training • Only the Bahamas, Barbados, Jamaica, Suriname and Guyana have tertiary institutions which offer certified and accredited training in media and communication • CARIMAC, the largest communication training institution in the Caribbean, services only about 10% of the demands for its courses • Limited access to communication training: many media practitioners are not sufficiently qualified or trained 7
Communication and Information in the Caribbean: Challenges • Limited media and communication research • Limited publications with region-specific content • Formulation of National ICT Plans and Strategies is in very initial stages: Barbados, Grenada, Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago are the first countries which have made some progress in this process • Low cost ICT devices, FOSS, teachers training, new curricula development including ICTs, contents and text books development and corresponding ethical and legal aspects • Preservation of documentary and AV/digital heritage • Difficulties in sourcing extra-budgetary funds 8
Addressing major development challenges in Caribbean MICs: What functions for CI? • Democratic governance (participation, transparency, accountability) • Social inclusion (indigenous population and marginalized groups) • Climate change, popularization of science, technology and innovation • Enhancing quality of education: ICTs • South-South cooperation • Preserving Diversity and pluralism • Drugs, crime, youth violence and HIV/AIDS 9
Communication and Information Projects in the Kingston Cluster of Countries • CI carries out a number of RP activities, IPDC and other extra- budgetary projects in line with the Medium-Term Strategy for 2008-2013 and the two CI programme priorities for 2008-2009, namely • Fostering free, independent and pluralistic communication and universal access to information • Promoting innovative applications of ICTs for sustainable development Focus here is on the following two projects: • • Developing community multi-media centres (CMCs) in the Caribbean • Improving Information/Media Literacy in the Caribbean 10
Developing CMCs in the Caribbean • Project provides selected marginalized communities with access to information, knowledge, resources, ICTs, and training • Access to information and knowledge: key determinants participation in development and opportunities for poverty reduction 11
Developing CMCs in the Caribbean Some results: • 25 CMCs supported in the Caribbean (Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago, St. Vincent and Grenadines) • 600 people trained in applications of ICTs in community development • Preservation and dissemination of cultural expressions • Increased community access to information on issues dealing with health, agriculture, community development, disasters prevention, environmental preservation 12
Developing CMCs in the Caribbean Some results: • Enhanced media pluralism as communities have alternatives to media conglomerates • Increased awareness of indigenous cultures in the Caribbean • 5 baseline studies on indigenous communities done: Belize, Dominica, Guyana, Suriname, St. Vincent and the Grenadines • In partnership with the Language Unit, UWI, a website on Caribbean Indigenous and Endangered Languages set up; it showcases preservation of 20 indigenous languages 13
CMCs facilitate community development in the region in such ways as: • Crime prevention and mitigation • Preservation and dissemination of cultural expressions • environmental preservation • access to information relating to HIV/AIDS, agriculture, disasters for rural and remote communities • media pluralism as communities have alternatives to media conglomerates 14 Sandwatch
Prison Radio Network (Jamaica) The FREE FM (Facilitating Rehabilitation, Education and Entertainment): joint initiative of the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) in Jamaica and UNESCO Kingston Office It seeks to create a positive interactive multimedia environment involving correctional officers, administrators, inmates and families The CMC functions as: A major vehicle to advance the DCS’s Life Skills Programme. Significant opportunity for positive change in education and communication 15 within the prisons
Programmes are designed to: • Educate both formally and informally, the prison inmates • Share information on events/activities across the penal system • Create a learning atmosphere which benefits both inmates and staff • Facilitate the reintegration of inmates in their communities and deter potential delinquents from a life of crime 16
Container Project (Jamaica) • Established in 2003 in the community of Palmers Cross. A 40ft container was turned into a community multimedia centre • Offers sensitization and training in various ICT skills (Internet, digital music and video production) for marginalized youth and other groups in and around the community • The Container offers the only Internet access point in the community • It has galvanized interest from both the immediate and surrounding communities in its alternate mode of training for personal and community development 17
Radio Paiwomak, southern savannas (Guyana) • Paiwomak is Guyana's first hinterland community radio station. It serves as a medium for the preservation and sustainable development of the forest reserves • Oriented to preserve the culture of the Makushi people, one of nine indigenous peoples in Guyana 18
Radio Muye, Guensi (Suriname) • A remote village inhabited by the Saramacca people, descendants of Maroons • The CMC grew out of Koni ku Libi, a local women’s association, whose name means “live wise to survive” • It serves as a means of informal education in the community • The radio is staffed by mostly women (95% ) • The CMC also provides entertainment for tourists through music and stories in local language • It is the only access the community has to electronic media 19
Radio Galibi (Suriname) • Set up by the Carïb community • Supports the preservation of their culture • 80% of broadcast in indigenous language Kali’na, 20% in Creole and Dutch • They stimulate and enhance development activities • Promotes the production and distribution of indigenous music 20
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