Issues pertaining to culture, youth and sport will be the focus of deliberations of the Eighth Meeting of the Caribbean Community’s Council for Human and Social Development (COHSOD), from 24-26 April 2003, at the Torarica Hotel in Paramaribo, Suriname.
The Caribbean Festival of the Arts (CARIFESTA) is expected to be a key agenda item as it will be staged in Suriname from August 25 this year. Ministers and officials will receive the latest update on plans for this major regional event, which is being held as the Community celebrates its 30th Anniversary. One of the major events of the year long celebration of that milestone has been incorporated into next week’s meeting when the third in the Distinguished Lecture Series will be delivered by the Hon. Maxine Henry Wilson, Minister of Education and Culture, Jamaica. Her topic is “The Future of Human Resource Management in the Caribbean”.
The issues of youth and culture are central to the agenda which include matters related to the implementation of CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME); the Regional Plan of Action on Children’s Issues; Regional Drugs and Crime Control Programmes and a Report from the Civil Society Task Force – all follow-up issues from the Seventh COHSOD held in October of 2002.
A number of special matters will also come up for consideration; among them: establishment of the Caribbean Health Education Accreditation Board (CHEAB) – a presentation by the University of the West Indies; thirtieth anniversary of the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC); health sector development; human resource development of environmental health professionals in CARICOM; HIV/AIDS and the establishment of a Regional Violence and Injury Surveillance System.
In the context of culture and development, presentations will be made by Dr. Keith Nurse of UWI – a leading expert in the field – on: Cultural Products and Economic Development in the Caribbean and a Regional Programme for Cultural Industry Development. These presentations will focus on the nature, value and economic impact of cultural and creative industries in the Caribbean. Other matters for discussion under this agenda item are the progress towards a CARICOM Foundation for Art and Culture and recent initiatives in culture undertaken by UNESCO.
With respect to Youth, the COHSOD will receive a number of reports on an integrated approach to youth development, and human and social development through sport. In this regard, issues relating, to the development of a collaborative youth agenda, priorities in the Caribbean Youth Ambassadors’ Programme, best practices in sports and development will be discussed. The World Bank with whom CARICOM has been collaborating in this area of work will make a special presentation on the Economics of Youth Development Strategies for the Caribbean.
Under the theme Meeting the Challenges of Human and Social Development through Culture, Youth and Sport this Eighth Meeting gets underway on 24 April, with an Opening Ceremony presided over by CARICOM Secretariat Assistant Secretary-General for Human and Social Development, Dr. Edward Greene. H.E. Dr. Runaldo Venetiaan, President of Suriname and the CARICOM Head of Government with lead responsibility for Culture, Gender, Youth and Sport will deliver the Feature Address with the Hon. Walter Sandriman, Minister of Education, Community Development and Culture, Suriname and Chairman of COHSOD making the opening remarks.
The Meeting wraps up on 26 April with visits by delegates to the CARIFESTA sites.
