KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Olivia Grange, is set to lead a 25-member CARICOM delegation into a meeting with the outgoing Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Irina Bokova, in Paris tomorrow.

According to a release from the ministry today, discussions will focus on the state of the finances at UNESCO; greater budgetary support for priority areas of Caribbean member states, including youth and gender; increased multilateral cooperation; as well as continued support for Small Island Developing States (SIDS), including funding for climate change in the wake of recent natural disasters.

The delegation will reportedly also express appreciation to Bokova for the support she has provided during her term.

The delegation will include ministers of Government, permanent delegates accredited to UNESCO/Brussels, permanent secretaries and secretaries-general of national commissions for UNESCO.

The meeting forms part of the agenda of the CARICOM delegation attending the 39th session of the UNESCO General Conference.

According to the release, Grange is scheduled to meet with other senior UNESCO officials during her attendance at the conference.