The first in a six part series of public education events titled, ‘Vini Kozé’ will be held tomorrow.

Vini Kozé, means ‘Come Chat’ in Creole. The inaugural event will be held at the Tortola Pier Park at 3:00 p.m. and is being hosted by the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS). The theme is, “Education: Creating Tomorrow’s Leaders Today”.

OECS Director General, Dr. Didacus Jules in a letter to Minister for Education and Culture Honourable Myron V. Walwyn on the event stated, “We look forward to a successful Forum, as this, the first in the six-part Vini Kozé Forum series, will set the stage for an impactful project outcome as we position the OECS as a listening entity more attuned to the needs of its Member States and their citizens.”

Dr. Jules further added: “The Education-themed event will focus on highlighting successes in education and creating awareness of the deficiencies in the system as well as discussing possible solutions that can be executed across all Member States.”

Minister for Education and Culture Honourable, Myron V. Walwyn will serve as a panelist due to his leading role in implementing initiatives such as: The Principals Licensure programme, The Virgin Islands Emerging Fellows programme, the launch of the Financial Services CAPE syllabus, and the implementation of Grade 12.

Other confirmed panelists include CXC Registrar, Mr. Glenroy Cumberbatch; Founder of St. Kitts International Academy, Ms. Dale Amory; OECS student and education advocate, Jarnickae Wilson; and grassroots representative and teenage mom, Ms. Lyndel Smith.

The forum will take place in a ‘town hall’ setting and the contributing panelists from the OECS Education Unit and other regional institutions will also be in attendance. Interested persons are also encouraged to attend the free event.

The Vini Kozé event series is being driven by the OECS Communications Unit, produced and executed by ElShaFord Productions and funded by OECS 10th European Development Fund. Vini Kozé events will also be held in Anguilla, Commonwealth of Dominica, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Martinique and Grenada, with topics including Climate Change, Economic Development, Youth and Gender, Regional Integration and Agriculture.

The Ministry of Education and Culture is committed to creating a “Culture of Excellence”.