The Special Meeting of the Council for Human and Social Development (COHSOD): Culture was convened at the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat Headquarters, Bank of Guyana Building, Georgetown, Guyana on 2-3 June 2004 under the Chairmanship of the Hon. Edward Hart, Minister of State in the Ministry of Community Development, Culture and Gender Affairs, Trinidad and Tobago.
In attendance were: Hon. Bertrand Joseph, Minister of Education, Human Development and Culture, Antigua and Barbuda, Hon. Gail Texeira, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Guyana, Hon. Maxine Henry-Wilson, Minister of Education, Youth and Culture and Member of Parliament, Jamaica, Hon. Menissa Rambally, Minister for Social Transformation, Culture and Local Government, Saint Lucia, Hon. Walter Sandriman, Minister of Education and Community Development, Suriname, and Hon. Edward Hart, Minister of State, Community Development, Culture and Gender Affairs, Trinidad and Tobago.
Hon. Lloyd Black, Minister of Education and Culture, represented the British Virgin Islands, while Hon. Roy Bodden, Minister of Education, Human Resources and Culture, represented the Cayman Islands and Hon. Lilian Been, Minister of Education, Youth, Sports and Culture, the Turks and Caicos Islands. Cuba was represented by Hon. Ismail Gonzalez Gonzalez, Deputy Minister of Culture.
St. Kitts and Nevis was also represented.
OPENING CEREMONY
The Opening Ceremony was chaired by Dr. Edward Greene, Assistant Secretary-General, Human and Social development, CARICOM Secretariat, who extended a warm welcome to Delegates and drew attention to the number of issues tabled for the consideration of the Meeting. In doing so, he made reference to the Ninth Meeting of the Council for Human and Social Development (COHSOD) at which Ministers endorsed the recommendation of the Arts and Culture Symposium at CARIFESTA VIII in Suriname in August 2003 that “if CARIFESTA is to be sustained as a viable enterprise, it should be completely reorganised and redeveloped, based on the lessons learned over the past years”. A CARICOM Task Force on CARIFESTA was then established with Members drawn from the artistic community in the Region, Governmental and Non Governmental Organisations, the Private Sector and the CARICOM Secretariat. Dr. Greene pointed out that a Paper “Reinventing CARIFESTA” comprising a Draft Strategic Plan for the reorganisation of CARIFESTA, prepared by Dr. Keith Nurse, Consultant, in close consultation with the Task Force under the Chairmanship of Mr. Alwin Bully, would be the main focus of discussion at this Special COHSOD Meeting. Other important issues at the meeting were: Free Movement of Cultural Workers, Cultural Goods and Services in the International Trade Rules, Cultural Issues surrounding the International Cricket Council World Cup West Indies 2007, The Project of the Caribbean Historical Society for Recognition of International Emancipation Day on 1 August, and the Forum of Ministers of Culture of Latin America and the Caribbean.
The Hon. Edward Hart, Minister of State in the Ministry of Community Development and Culture, Trinidad and Tobago, expressed in his brief welcome remarks his pleasure to note from the attendance, that Member States, in addition to his own country, recognized the importance of this Meeting. He was of the opinion that the various aspects of culture being discussed at this Meeting would contribute to the development of culture in the Caribbean Region. With Trinidad and Tobago having been the venue for the first Meeting of the Task Force on the CARIFESTA Strategic Plan, he extended his appreciation to the Members of this Task Force for the long hours spent in preparing the recommendations to this Meeting.
A “NEW” CARIFESTA
Cognisant that the Caribbean Festival of Arts – CARIFESTA – from its inception in 1972, has reinforced the common social and historical bonds of the Region's peoples and is a manifestation of our Caribbean Culture, the COHSOD recognised the imperative of reorganising CARIFESTA to ensure that it becomes a more dynamic event, is economically viable and meets the expectations of regional and international audiences.
The COHSOD received the Report of the Task Force, which had been established to develop a Draft Strategic Plan for the reorganisation of CARIFESTA, which reviewed and analysed the present organisation of this event and recommended a number of measures, which would facilitate the successful staging of this signature regional activity.
The COHSOD, having considered the Draft Strategic Plan for a “new” CARIFESTA, recommended that a Strategic Framework should be established, for phasing in and perfecting CARIFESTA in line with the vision identified by the Task Force and as amended and adopted by the Meeting and building in a review process. The Meeting further agreed on a 2-3 year cycle and selection of CARIFESTA sites for 3 cycles to enhance planning. The Task Force was mandated to revise the Report paying attention to the following areas: Structure/Organisation, Functions and the Utilisation of Information Communication Technology (ICT).
FREE MOVEMENT OF CULTURAL WORKERS
The COHSOD noted with pleasure in moving towards free intra-regional movement of skills under the Revised Treaty Establishing the Caribbean Community including the CARICOM Single Market and Economy accords CARICOM nationals who are University Graduates, Media Workers, Sports Persons, Artistes and Musicians the right to seek employment in Member States.
The COHSOD approved the definition of the Artistes and Musicians and agreed that preparation or amendment of a List of Categories and Skills should be done in consultation with the Regional Cultural Committee.
CULTURAL GOODS AND SERVICES
The COHSOD considered issues relating to trade in cultural goods and services and recognised the importance of developing a collective approach on culture in trade policy and negotiations in this era of globalisation based on a presentation made by a Representative of the Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery (CRNM). It noted that the Region's approach must be based on balancing preservation and promotion of our cultural heritage and the economic and export interests of CARICOM's cultural or culture-related industries. In this context, care should be taken to ensure that policies implemented protect the Region's culture and heritage and promote global market access for regional producers.
The COHSOD mandated the CARICOM Secretariat to convene a joint meeting of the COHSOD and the COTED on matters pertaining to trade in cultural goods and services with special focus on intellectual property, market access of Caribbean artists to foreign markets, and barriers in the movement of Caribbean nationals. The Meeting further agreed that the Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery (CRNM), culture and trade officials should play a critical role in this area. It was also recognised that national policies should provide support to cultural entrepreneurs and cultural industries and foster the development of Caribbean artists.
CULTURE ISSUES: CRICKET WORLD CUP 2007
The COHSOD noted that the West Indies will be hosting Cricket World Cup 2007 and agreed that this occasion presented an opportunity for the showcasing of the Region's cultural heritage.
There was consensus that a plan be developed and implemented for the production and marketing of quality cultural products during all the stages of Cricket World Cup 2007, and that a decision should be taken early in this regard, given the time required for creative work.
The COHSOD recommended that 2 or 3 members of the Task Force as well as the Chair of the COHSOD should be incorporated in the Cultural Committee of the Cricket Council.
CELEBRATION OF EMANCIPATION DAY (1 AUGUST)
The COHSOD agreed to support the Caribbean Historical Society (CHS) in its project to have 1 August internationally recognised as Emancipation Day by all nations by recommending this date for celebration by all CARICOM Member States. It noted that Emancipation Day is officially celebrated in Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Vincent and the Grenadines Trinidad and Tobago and the Turks and Caicos Islands.
FORUM OF MINISTERS OF CULTURE OF LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN
The COHSOD received a report from a Representative of the Technical Secretariat of the Forum of Ministers of Culture and Officials in Charge of Cultural Policies in Latin America and the Caribbean on the Forum of Ministers of Culture of Latin America and the Caribbean and noted the importance of involvement in this regional body. The COHSOD agreed to support the next meeting of the Forum to be convened in Trinidad and Tobago in November 2004.
CARICOM – CUBA CULTURAL AGREEMENT
The Meeting noted that a CARICOM – Cuba Cultural Agreement will be signed during the Cuba-CARICOM Meeting to be convened in Cuba later in June 2004.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The COHSOD expressed it s gratitude to the Secretary-General and Staff of the CARICOM Secretariat for the excellent arrangements, which had been put in place for the Meeting and which contributed to the fruitfulness of its deliberations.
Georgetown, Guyana
4 June 2004
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