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Small Islands Voice
Inter-Regional Workshop, Koror, Palau, 18th-22nd November, 2002.
The first
Small Islands Voice Inter-regional Workshop was held at the Palau
International Coral Reef Centre in Koror, Palau from 18-22 November
2002. Representatives of government, non-governmental organizations
and youth from Cook Islands and Palau in the Pacific; Seychelles
in the Indian Ocean; St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent and the
Grenadines, and the San Andres Archipelago (Colombia) in the Caribbean
joined with UNESCO representatives and a colleague from Monash
University in Australia to:
- promote
direct interaction and linkages between island countries in
the three regions (Pacific, Indian Ocean and Caribbean).
- discuss
and further advance specific activities for Small Islands Voice,
nationally, regionally and inter-regionally.
- start discussions
on specific issues emerging from Small Islands Voice, which
can be presented to the 2004 review of the Programme of Action
for Small Island Developing States.
The background
document and the workshop
programme provide further information about the week of activities.
A full account of the workshop activities and its outcome is contained
in the publication 'Small
Islands Voice Laying the foundation'. Significant progress
was made on all three objectives, and in particular concrete plans
were prepared for the 2003 activities for Small Islands Voice
in the three regions. The opportunity to interact with people
from other regions was particularly appreciated by workshop participants.
The Rock Islands Declaration prepared
by the participants to the workshop emphasizes their commitment
to the goals and continuation of Small Islands Voice. Several
newspaper articles from St.
Vincent and the Grenadines, Seychelles
and Palau describe
the participants' experiences.
The following
photographs illustrate some of the interaction and activities
that took place during the workshop. The full report on the workshop
will be available shortly.
Getting
to know each other in the Rock Islands
(from left to right: Sabrina Marie (Seychelles), Maara Murare
and Bruce Gray (Cook Islands), June-Marie Mow (San Andres Archipelago,
Colombia), Alain De Comarmond and Matthew Servina (Seychelles)
Mr Herman
Belmar of St. Vincent and the Grenadines presenting his country's
flag to Ms. Sandra Pierantozzi, Vice-President of Palau
Ms. Maara
Murare of the Cook Islands presenting a gift to Ms. Sandra Pierantozzi,
Vice-President of Palau
Youth representatives
from Seychelles, Cook Islands, Palau and St. Kitts and Nevis (from
left to right: Sabrina Marie, Maara Murare, Patricia Black, Jesse
Mangham, Samal Duggins)
Sabrina
Marie and Maara Murare (standing) sharing ideas with youth from
the Palau Community College
Joe Aitaro
(centre) describing the construction of a traditional 30-man outrigger
canoe at Melekeok
The recently
built outrigger canoe at Melekeok
Joe Aitaro
(right) explaining some of the measures put in place to protect
the environment during the building of the Compact Road
Section
of the Compact Road
Workshop
participants visiting the Capitol Relocation Project in the State
of Melekeok
Workshop
participants visiting the Melekeok traditional men's meeting house
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