St. George’s, June 9, 2010 (GIS) – The Grenada Government has announced a plan to enhance the infrastructure and human resource of the country’s Cultural Heritage Department, and it’s seeking the assistance of the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).
It’s one of several projects of government which is also working on holding a Literary Festival in October, said Junior Culture Minister, Sen. Arley Gill.
He made the remarks to local and regional delegates attending a four-day “UNESCO Sub-Regional Meeting on the Cultural Diversity Programming Lens & Intangible Cultural Heritage.’’
“As one of our goals, we would like to collect, copy and properly archive all available local songs – such as folk songs, calypso and soca,’’ Sen. Gill said. “We also would like to have the ability, with the right equipment and enough trained personnel, to document the stories of our cultural and sporting heroes and heroine, and to record these stories on video and document them in books with photographs.’’
Sen. Gill admitted that the plans are ambitious, adding that “we believe that it can only be done with backing from an agency like UNESCO.’’
He suggested that UNESCO could also play a part in efforts to turn the Town of St. George into a “Green City,’’ a more environmentally friendly place.
“We look to UNESCO support for this project,’’ said Sen. Gill, who is also Minister responsible for Information and Information and Communication Technology.
The opening session of the meeting in St. George’s was attended by Education Minister Sen. Franka Alexis-Bernardine, Chairperson of the Grenada National Commission for UNESCO. She is also an elected member of the Executive Board of UNESCO.
Sen. Gill revealed that Grenada is currently a candidate in the race for a position on a cultural committee of UNESCO. He appealed for the support of other nations for Grenada’s candidature, pointing to the need for more involvement of small-island states in international bodies.
“We have put up our candidature for the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage,’’ Sen. Gill said. “Election of candidates will take place later this month and Grenada has already received pledges of support for our candidature from Chile, Uruguay and Brazil. Columbia is also expected to do the same.’’
The Senator thanked UNESCO for its ongoing support of local projects and highlighted current and upcoming cultural events across the nation.
Sen. Gill said: “Between now and the end of August, Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique will be a washed with cultural activities: Regatta in Carriacou and Petite Martinique; Spicemas – the annual carnival celebration which will be official launched at the National Stadium in Grenada on June 12; Emancipation Day celebrations; Rainbow City Festival in St. Andrew; and a host of other community festivals in parishes across the country. These are indeed exciting times for our nation and we invite the region and the world to celebrate with us.’’
The visiting UNESCO delegates were treated t a cocktail reception Tuesday evening at Coyaba Hotel. It was attended by Prime Minister Hon. Tillman Thomas, who is also Minister of Culture, and Sen. Gill, who was serenaded on the celebration of his birthday.
The Senator, backed by Men from the Mainland band, sang a few lines from his 2009 calypso, “In Mi Blood.’’