Meet the New Members of the Belize Memory of the World Committee

The Belize National Commission for UNESCO last week appointed new serving members of the Belize World Heritage Advisory Committee. Fast track to this past Wednesday and the members of the Belize Memory of the World Committee were inducted at a brief ceremony held at the conference room of the Marion Jones Sporting Complex. The chairs from each of these committees along with other stakeholders sit on the Belize Commission for UNESCO, whose President is Deputy Prime Minister Patrick Faber. Here’s a snippet from the induction ceremony, after which a meeting of the commission took place.

Patrick Faber

Patrick Faber, President, National Commission of UNESCO (Belize)

“We have, over the years that I’ve been in this capacity, made several attempts to have a functioning National Commission. It is always very difficult to do because of the many different personalities that would make up that commission and of course everybody’s very busy schedule. But also because the fact that the leadership at any given time in the secretariat varies—to put it lightly—and I am happy on this occasion, I am sure that you will all agree given your interaction with him so far, that Mister Blades is doing a good job of trying to put things together.”

Angel Cal

Dr. Angel Cal, Member, National Commission of UNESCO (Belize)

“A lot can be done. This committee has—if you put together all the experience and the expertise here—a lot can be done. And if we are methodical, if we plan, if we use available resources wisely as we have to…to give a very small and concrete example: I am being brought here by NICH and that is just a small example of how that resource is helping to move this forward.”

The lifespan of the membership is three years and expires in January 2022.