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PRESS RELEASE
February 15, 2005

UNESCO Director General congratulates St. Lucia

Director General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Mr. Koichiro Matsuura has congratulations to the Government and people of St. Lucia, on the designation of the Pitons Management Area as a World Heritage Site.

Mr. Matsuura’s expressed his congratulatory message at the official inscription ceremony of the Pitons Management Area in Soufriere on Monday, February 14, 2005.

The UNESCO Director General added that the inscription gave increased exposure not only to St. Lucia, but the wider Eastern Caribbean. He informed that to date, there had been 15 world heritage sites in the Caribbean compared with only three in the early 1990’s.

The Director General said while the inscription of the Pitons Management Area was a cause of much celebration, the real work has only just begun: “An important element of the global strategy of the World Heritage Committee is to draw to the attention of countries, the post inscription processes, particularly the proper management and monitoring of the site, as well as the provision of the information and education on the site’s significance and values,” adding, “this is an ongoing process and we require critical commitment, strategic planning and stamina. Looking around me today I fell that St. Lucia is really equipped to undertake this task”,

Member of Parliament for Soufriere and Fond St. Jacques Hon. Walter Francios, noted that the people of Soufriere needed to prepare themselves to take advantage of the opportunities for investment and employment, which would arise as a result of St. Lucia’s world heritage site.

“This applies to all sectors, including hotels, restaurants, craft production, the provision of services and so on. Government is prepared to facilitate this process by providing the necessary infrastructure especially good roads and the establishment of institutional arrangement required for encouraging this process. Therefore the cooperation and support of the people of Soufriere will be essential for the establishment and effective management of the Piton Management area. (39sec)”, Mr. Francois said.

The Pitons represent another significant achievement in St. Lucia, as St. Lucians are preparing to celebrate 26 years of independence.  Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Kenny Anthony says the honour bestowed on St. Lucia is reflective of the island’s stunning beauty.