Mr Koïchiro Matsuura, Director-General of the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, UNESCO, left, congratulates Dr. Davidson L. Hepburn on being elected President of the 35 General Conference of UNESCO. Looking on is His Excellency Paul Farquharson, Bahamas High Commissioner to London.
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NASSAU, BAHAMAS – The 58
Member States of the UNESCO Executive Board, elected Dr. Davidson L.
Hepburn President of the 35th General Conference of United Nations Education,
Scientific and Cultural Organisation, UNESCO on September 14, 2009,
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced.
He beat out the distinguished
candidate Professor Daniel Filmus from Argentina, during elections in
Paris, France, the ministry stated.
Dr. Hepburn’s candidature
received the endorsement by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), and his
successful election signals the first instance that a Caribbean State
has held the Post of President of the General Conference during the
60 years of UNESCO.
He is no stranger to the international
community having previously served for 15 years at the United Nations,
10 of which as Ambassador of The Bahamas to the UN. He has been involved
with UNESCO since 1993 and has served as Chairman of The Bahamas National
Commission to UNESCO, as well as Chairman of the Committee on Conventions
and Recommendations.
Dr. Hepburn is the recipient
of many awards including the
Chevalier de la Legion d’honneur
from the French Government for promoting Franco-Bahamian relations in
Language and Culture.
He is fluent in three working
languages, English, French and Spanish, having earned a PhD Degree in
Comparative Languages and Literature as well as a Diploma in International
Relations from
L’Institute des Hautes Etudes in Geneva, Switzerland.
He sees the election as an
honour within itself. A greater responsibility will now be placed on
the Government of The Bahamas and the other CARICOM States to take more
of an active role in the important work of the organization, the ministry
said.
Newly elected President of the UNESCO General Assembly paid courtesy call on PM at cabinet office on October 1st.
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Further, Ambassador Hepburn
emphasized the importance in giving a voice to small developing countries,
in particular, small island developing states (SIDS), and now that precedence
has been set it is his hope that further SIDS will endeavour to take
up high posts in the international arena, the ministry said.
Bahamas High Commissioner to
London, His Excellency Paul Farquharson, QPM, accredited to the Court
of St. James and Ambassador to the Republic of France was happy to witness
the election of Dr. Hepburn to the very high post.
He felt this that this serves
as a testament to a great Bahamian son in Davidson Hepburn. This success
will mean that any young Bahamian aspiring to serve their country overseas
can achieve the highest of office if they put their mind to it, the
ministry said.
The p
resident shall declare the opening
and closing of each plenary meeting of the Conference. He shall direct
the discussions, ensure observance of these rules, accord the right
to speak, put questions to the vote and announce decisions. He shall
rule on points of order and, subject to the present rules, shall control
the proceedings and the maintenance of order.
The president may, in the course
of the discussion of an item, propose to the Conference the limitation
of the time to be allowed to speakers, the limitation of the number
of times each speaker may speak, the closure of the list of speakers
or the closure of the debate.
He may also propose the suspension
or adjournment of the meeting or the adjournment of the debate on the
item under discussion.
The president shall not vote, but may designate a member of his delegation
to vote in his place.
The president, in the exercise of his functions, remains under the authority
of the General Conference.
The president of the General Conference shall sit ex officio in an advisory
capacity on the Executive Board.