When Kerry Met Kris – Negotiating Caribbean Development with US Secretary of State

We heard the welcome news that the USA will return as a member State of UNESCO.

This has been as a result of intense lobbying by civil society and behind the scenes cajoling.

The US rejoining signal new possibilities for bilateral and multilateral arrangements with Caribbean countries.

The work started halted and stayed in abeyance for eight years.

That’s how sluggish the diplomatic and political machinery can get.

Need for Sound Bilateral Engagements

However, alongside engagements with CARICOM, Guyana President Dr Irfaan Ali and Prime Minister of Barbados in separate events over the last months pronounced on the need for sound bilateral and multilateral technical negotiation and engagement skills.

The Caribbean has never been proactive in utilising the skills and expertise of its own citizens, leaning towards alien and foreign ‘experts’ who do not possess the insider cultural experience which makes such engagements hit and miss. And the Caribbean has generally been hitting rather than missing.

Not Business as Usual

In her address on a new financial global pact, Ms Mottley cautioned World Bank technocrats not to return to their workplaces as if it is ‘business as usual”.

But technical mindsets do not change overnight. The radical shift necessary takes concerted efforts and expertise, as in moving the UNESCO Board to support the revision of classifications. Then working with its technocrats to make the necessary changes.

Changing Mindsets

It would continue to be business as usual until our technocrats understand how to devise technical instruments to transform mindsets for social change.

Readers may recall the meeting of minds at the UNESCO Executive Board when former US Secretary of State, John Kerry and US UNESCO representative Crystal Nix-Hines discuss UNESCO funding woes with Vice President of the UNESCO’s Programme and External Commission who is also Trinidad and Tobago’s Representative to the UNESCO Executive Board, Dr Kris Rampersad, (R)

US Agenda in the Caribbean

The meeting reinforced the role of the US in the agenda of the Caribbean.

Dr Kris Rampersad proposed sustainable development priorities of the Caribbean and Small Island Development States during a luncheon meeting hosted by the US for members of the UNESCO Executive Board and permanent delegates to UNESCO at UNESCO headquarters, Paris.

Photo Courtesy: UNESCO/Pilar Chiang-Joo.

In the News – From Our Archives

Trinidad UNESCO representative calls on US Secretary of State to support Caribbean agenda

PARIS, France — The near US$400 debt owed by the United States to the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and its potential value in advancing UNESCO’s work in the Caribbean and elsewhere were placed before US Secretary of State John Kerry by the Trinidad and Tobago representative to the UNESCO Executive Board, Dr Kris Rampersad.

Dr Rampersad is Vice President of the UNESCO’s Programme and External Commission which scrutinises and make recommendations for UNESCO’s programmes and funding.

“We are working it out,” Kerry responded to Rampersad when he met members of the board at one-on-one discussions during a luncheon hosted by the US representative on the board, Ambassador Crystal Nix-Hines, following an address to board members at UNESCO’s Paris headquarters on Sunday. 

Director General of UNESCO Irina Bokova described the US debt as “a small problem to fix”, and efforts were being made to “work it out.”

Dr Rampersad told Kerry that the Caribbean, as the small-island neighbours of the United States, could benefit tremendously from resumption of its payments. This amounts to more than one fifth – some 22 percent – of UNESCO’s budget and has resulted in cuts in several programme and other initiatives having accrued since 2011 and escalated as the US suspended payments in 2013 over the admission of Palestine as a member of UNESCO, and subsequently lost its voting rights in UNESCO. 

Noting the additional mandate of UNESCO for protection of oceans and special focus on small island developing states (SIDS) in the new UN Sustainable Development Goals, along with its traditional focus on culture, education, science and information.

Rampersad told Kerry that while there has been tremendous focus on the science associated with oceans with risks of climate change and sea level rise, the oceans to the Caribbean also held tremendous underplayed cultural value and part of the migration memory of its ancient, colonial and contemporary history, along with it being a resource for fishing, tourism and transport. 

She pointed out the region’s vulnerability with its open borders to arms, narcotics and human trafficking required concerted international action and funding and resourcing.

In direct response, Kerry affirmed the US commitment and support to combating arms, narcotics and human trafficking and to UNESCO in shared efforts at building a culture of peace across the world. The United States is seeking re-election to the UNESCO Executive Board at elections scheduled to take place at the upcoming UNESCO General Conference in November 2015.

Rampersad, who will Chair the Education Commission at the General Conference, is a journalist and independent development educator/consultant, the UNESCO-trained heritage expert for the English-speaking Caribbean and has served as an independent member of UNESCO’s international intergovernmental committee on intangible cultural heritage.

In his earlier address, Kerry commended UNESCO’s work on sustainable development and Oceans and emphasised the importance of education, announcing that the US and UNESCO will engage other partners for the first-ever conference on “Preventing Violent Extremism through Education” at the General Conference. He also asserted that the US was committed to Freedom of Expression and protection of journalists, commending UNESCO’s work in these areas.

See report by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean Eclac in this link: https://caribbean.eclac.org/node/1459

US Secretary of State called on by Trinidad UNESCO representative to support Caribbean agenda | Caribbean News Now Published on October 21, 2015

UNESCO Announces US Return

30 June 2023

The United States of America returns to UNESCO: A very large majority of Member States vote in favour

UNESCO’s 193 Member States, meeting for an Extraordinary Session of the General Conference on Friday, voted by a very large majority to approve the proposal submitted by the United States to rejoin the Organization.

With this return, UNESCO will be in an even stronger position to carry out its mandate

On June 8, 2023, the United States sent a letter to the Director-General of UNESCO, proposing to rejoin the Organization as early as July on the basis of a concrete financial plan, which includes a commitment to repay its estimated arrears of $619 million.

It’s a great day for UNESCO and for multilateralism. Building upon the momentum achieved in recent years, our Organization is once again moving towards universalism with this return of the United States.

UNESCO’s 193 member states met on Thursday for an extraordinary session of the General Conference to examine this proposal. On Friday afternoon, they adopted the American proposal by a very large majority. All the conditions are now met for a full return of the United States to UNESCO in July. (132 votes in favor, 10 votes against).

A reinforced budget to implement its mandate

The United States will fund the equivalent of 22% of the Organization’s regular budget. To this will be added the progressive payment of their arrears and, as of 2023, voluntary contributions to fund programs including those supporting access to education in Africa, the memory of the Holocaust and the protection of journalists.

UNESCO will thus benefit from a reinforced budget to implement its programs for education, culture, science and information. It will also be able to step up its actions for Africa and gender equality, two of its strategic priorities.

A return that underscores UNESCO’s central role

Elected to head the Organization in November 2017, Audrey Azoulay has led mediations to ease political tensions and find consensus on the most sensitive topics, such as the Middle East. She has also reformed the Organization to make it more efficient.

UNESCO’s mandate – education, science, culture, freedom of information – is absolutely central to meeting the challenges of the 21st century. It is this centrality, as well as the easing of political tensions within the Organization and the initiatives launched in recent years, that have led the United States to initiate this return

UNESCO has thus been able to launch new initiatives enabling it to fully grasp the challenges of today – such as the ethics of artificial intelligence and the protection of oceans. It has also returned to emblematic field campaigns – such as the reconstruction of the old city of Mosul in Iraq – in line with its historic ambitions.

In a letter sent to UNESCO’s Director-General at the beginning of June, the United States refers to these reforms and initiatives among the reasons for its return.

AI Assessment of Post

The content provides useful information about the USA rejoining UNESCO and its significance for bilateral and multilateral arrangements with Caribbean countries. The inclusion of images and links adds visual appeal and credibility to the content.. It tells about the need for sound bilateral engagement and the importance of utilizing the skills and expertise of Caribbean citizens and outlines the meeting between former US Secretary of State John Kerry, US UNESCO representative Crystal Nix-Hines, and Dr Kris Rampersad.

About Dr Kris Rampersad

Dr Kris Rampersad talks about Digital Challenge to SIDS and solutions

Ambassadors Commend Dr Kris Rampersad Chairs UNESCO Education Commission