Minister for Education, Youth Affairs and Sports, Honourable Sharie B. de Castro is away from the Territory on Travel Duty attending official meetings from November 9 to 20. 

The Minister attended the 3^rd Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) Ministerial Summit in Barbados from November 9 to 11 where she served as a panelist. This year’s summit focused on the theme: ‘Reimagining Educational Reform –Towards Transformative Agility’. 

Honourable de Castro is also attending the 42^nd United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) General Conference in Paris from November 11 to November 16. 

Honourable de Castro said, “Attendance at the UNESCO General meeting is integral to the success of the education sector in the Virgin Islands.  The delegation from the Virgin Islands will be interacting with stakeholders that will seek to assist with supporting our education mandate in areas such as STEAM development, literacy, TVET, youth development and development in terms of our cultural sector.”

The Minister will also travel to London for the United Kingdom Overseas Territories Association Youth Summit and Youth Parliament from November 16 to November 19.

Honourable de Castro said, “It is integral that there is a special segment, where the UK Overseas Territories are in a position to raise issues from the dispatch box in the House of Commons on an ongoing basis.  We were invited to allow a young person between the ages eleven to eighteen to be able to take part in this special sitting in the House of Commons Chamber.”

        Junior Minister for Culture and Tourism, Honourable Luce Hodge-Smith will perform the functions of Minister for Education, Youth Affairs and Sports during Honourable de Castro’s absence. 

The appointment is in accordance with section 52 (2) of the Virgin Islands Constitution Order, 2007 where the Governor action in accordance with the advice of the Premier shall, by instrument under Public Seal appoint Ministers from among the elected members of the House of Assembly.