Kingstown, St. Vincent, April,16,2026-The Honourable Lavern King, Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Vocational Training and Innovation, Digital Transformation and Information, and Government Senator, has placed Vincentian culture and education firmly on the global agenda during a high-level meeting with UNESCO Director‑General Professor Khaled El‑Enany.
Leading the St. Vincent and the Grenadines delegation, Senator King advanced priorities as a Small Island Developing State, with a strong focus on heritage preservation, education, and the responsible integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into schools.
Central to the discussions was the recognition of the Nine Mornings Festival, a cherished Vincentian tradition that has been celebrated for more than a century and remains unique in the Caribbean. Senator King also pressed for the preservation of the Garifuna language, underscoring its importance as a living link to indigenous identity and cultural resilience.
Professor El‑Enany welcomed these initiatives and expressed UNESCO’s readiness to deepen collaboration with SVG, particularly in building educational and technological capacity within small states. He accepted in principle Senator King’s invitation to pay an official visit to St. Vincent and the Grenadines, a move expected to strengthen alignment between UNESCO’s support and national development priorities.
“This was a fruitful engagement, and we anticipate meaningful outcomes in the medium term,” Senator King said, while extending gratitude to Minister Phillip Jackson for entrusting her with the responsibility of leading the delegation.
For Vincentians, the meeting represents more than diplomatic progress it signals international recognition of cultural traditions and heritage that define national identity. The Nine Mornings Festival and Garifuna language preservation efforts now stand to benefit from UNESCO’s global platform, while education and AI integration promise new opportunities for the country’s future generations.