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Some of the participants from across the Caribbean in attendance at the UNESCO Workshop on the 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions held at the Accra Beach Hotel and Spa yesterday.

Ministry committed to enhancing indigenous culture

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth remains committed to enhancing the indigenous cultural experiences of Barbados so that they can make a meaningful contribution towards the development of the financial landscape of this island as well as the progress of its citizens.

This was one of the messages that Minister, Stephen Lashley delivered at the UNESCO Workshop on the 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions held at the Accra Beach Hotel and Spa yesterday.
 
Of course prominent on the calendar of events is the upcoming African heritage festival, Crop Over which is aimed at among other things to support and protect these artistic celebrations, he said.
 
He believes that it is also fitting that the timing of this workshop discussing diversity in cultural expressions could not have come at a more appropriate time.
 
“The hosting of this workshop (the very first of its kind in the Caribbean) is quite timely given the fact that we are at the start of our annual Crop Over Festival, just over a month-long celebration of our distinctive, cultural fare; and we are also approaching the end of our Heritage Month observance here in Barbados.”
 
He continued, “It is through these and several other artistic events throughout the year that the range and array of cultural expressions in Barbados are promoted and preserved, and new vistas of commercial and employment opportunities are created for our various artistes and participants.” 
 
Lashley said that leading the way in promoting this cultural event is his Ministry with other objectives being to earn foreign exchange and facilitate the creation of jobs.
 
“The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, has been in the forefront of these promotions, and remains committed to strengthening our indigenous cultural industries so that they can contribute significantly to the enrichment of the lives of the wider population and stimulate economic activity that would generate employment and earn much needed foreign exchange.”
 
This in turn would showcase the importance of culture to Barbados he believes. “Such outcomes will indeed tangibly demonstrate the value of culture to the Barbados economy.  It is for this reason that we continue to strive to scrupulously develop, promote, protect and preserve our cultural expressions and heritage.”
 
The Minister of Culture stated that he recognizes that these objectives are not just for this island alone, but for the entire region and this is why this workshop is so significant.
 
“As a small island developing state we are not alone in these efforts and neither are those countries represented here today. CARICOM member states are also positioning themselves through national and regional initiatives to invest in, and diversify their economies by leveraging their natural and cultural assets.  In fact the importance of the development of a creative economy is the preferred direction for many.  This workshop, therefore, should serve as a means of giving impetus and backing to the critical need to build the capacity and capability of our local and regional cultural organizations.” (PJT)

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