(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkey, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) Monday 26 November continued the unveiling of the prodigious array skills and talents that reside within the walls of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat Headquarters in Georgetown, Georgetown.
The occasion was the opening of the CARICOM Staff Talent Celebration 2012; an activity which has formed a main part of the Secretariat’s calendar. This year, it is both poignant and symbolic, marking a decade-old event and dedicated to CARICOM Deputy Secretary-General Ambassador Lolita Applewhaite.
An ardent supporter of activities that inspire and encourage social cohesion, Ambassador Applewhaite, in her opening remarks, was captivated with the multifaceted nature of the event, which becomes more evident every year.
A display of sculptures
With a complement of staff from most of the 15 Member States, it is not surprising that the CARICOM Secretariat would be a microcosm of the vibrant and colourful peoples of the Caribbean Region. The reggae vibe of Jamaica; the steel pan rhythms of Trinidad and Tobago; the multi-culturalism of Guyana, the savoury taste of Cou-Cou and flying fish of Barbados; and the idyllic enchantment of the OECS islands are all fused in a radiant display of culture, stroking the sensibilities of all who share in the experience.
Seemingly unassuming individuals, by virtue of their generally official dispositions, would emerge like radiant butterflies coming out of their cocoons with intricately designed crochet, exotic mirrors, awe-inspiring paintings, exquisite pottery and paper craft, and lamp shades that had been transformed from their original uses. Passionate collectors of cups, stamps, silverware, belts, hats, brooches, books, old telephones, decades-old typewriters, turntables and shoes, add their own creative expressions to the celebration, evoking feelings that are as varied as the items themselves.
The event which began in September 2002 was dubbed the CARICOM Staff Talent Exhibition and was the brainchild of the now defunct Organisational Development Unit headed by Ms Andrea Watson-James.
It was conceptualised to showcase the creativity and innovation of the staff, enhance cohesion, create opportunities for collaboration and more significantly, encourage work life balance. To appreciate the significance of this event, particularly in its early beginnings, one must consider that the CARICOM Secretariat offices were scattered around central Georgetown. That coming together of staff in one place at one time was to evoke a feeling of being a part of a whole.
DSG and other staff view the exhibition
“Unpretentious” is how Ms Watson-James described the venue of the first Staff Talent Exhibition. The Secretariat’s Main Street Office Annex was the modest venue, but the exhibition was what amazed and exceeded expectations to the extent that demands were made for an extension of its planned one-day duration.
This week, the CARICOM Secretariat is celebrating the legacy of a decade: ten years of culture, talent, passion and creativity.
The event has evolved since the first exhibition in September 2002. In 2006, the title changed to the CARICOM Staff Talent Celebration to mark the range of activities that had expanded to live performances and culinary expositions that are usually judged by the able administrators of the Carnegie Schools of Home Economics, Georgetown, Guyana.
Ms Sharon Jordan admires her handiwork
Still evolving, in 2011 a How To Show was introduced: how to create head wraps, entertain at Christmas, tie dye fabrics, prepare novelty cakes, work safely, and speak Swahili.
To mark the 10th Anniversary this year, a week-long event has been rolled out. It features a five-day exhibition including collectibles, literature, horticulture, multi-media productions, photography and craft; an evening of musical entertainment; poetry and palav; and a fashion extravaganza.
In the spirit of a Caribbean Region without barriers, the fashion extravaganza will feature the launch of two fashion lines: Corporate Stepping and Christmas Collection 2012, created by a young and upcoming designer of Guyana, Ms Keisha Edwards. For weeks after work, CARICOM Secretariat Staff members have been going through runway drills, hopefully to hit the catwalk as professional models and help propel the success of this young Guyanese designer. This event will be held on Thursday November 29, at 15:00hours.
The curtains will close on the celebration with an element described as “the ultimate culinary and cultural experience of the CARICOM Members States, titled, ‘Melange Caraibes.’
