Archaeologist Jay Haviser (right) with other Global Experts workshop delegates in Washington DC.
WASHINGTON, D.C.--Archaeologist and St. Maarten Archaeological Centre Simarc Director Jay Haviser recently participated in a limited invitation Global Experts workshop in Washington DC.
The workshop, organised by the World Bank and Society for American Archaeology, consisted of 20 professional cultural heritage experts from 16 countries, including China, Brazil, Philippines, Mexico, Australia, Nigeria, and Spain, to evaluate the World Bank’s new Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) Guidelines.
A number of participants were also representatives of regional international organisations. Haviser, for instance, is president of the International Association for Caribbean Archaeology (IACA). The presidents of the World Archaeological Congress and the European Archaeological Association ICHAM also were present.
The discussions were to evaluate the ESF guidelines, make comments for potential adjustments, and discuss how implementation measures can be facilitated via the World Bank compliance requirements.
It was further outlined in the workshop that update meetings will be needed for future evaluations of the ESF by this panel of global experts.
This World Bank Global Experts meeting took place in the same week St. Maarten Prime Minister Leona Romeo-Marlin and Finance Minister Mike Ferrier were also in Washington DC as witnesses to the signing of the agreement between the Dutch Government and the World Bank to create the Hurricane Irma-recovery trust fund for St. Maarten.
