UNESCO’s Slave Route Project launched in SKN

BASSETERRE, ST.KITTS: The Federation's UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) Slave Route project, lecture series and consultations were officially launched to the public on Tuesday night.

The event which was held at the Open Campus of the University of the West Indies (UWI), located at The Gardens saw a wide section of attendees including Rastafarians, students, government officials and educators. It came under the auspices of the Governor General, Sir Cuthbert, Sebastian. 

Deputy Prime Minister, Hon Sam Condor was in attendance as well as Minister of Health, Social Services, Community Development, Culture and Gender Affairs, Marcella Liburd.

 The project was launched under the theme: ‘Towards the erection of a monument in remembrance of our ancestors, the abolition of slavery, and the slave trade.’

Chairperson for the Public Relations affairs of the UNESCO National Scientific Slave Route Committee, Marlene Phillips, highlighted that this year is the ‘International Year of People of African Descent. “It’s a very special year,” she remarked.

The project was launched back in 1994 and that it continues to create opportunities to promote mutual understanding, international reconciliation and stability, through consultation and discussion, raise awareness, promote debate and help build consensus on approaches to be taken on addressing the issue of the slave trade and slavery.

Secretary General of St. Kitts and Nevis National Commission for UNESCO, Antonio Maynard explained that this project is a part of a global initiative by UNESCO in giving due recognition to sites and talking of memories linked to the transatlantic slave trade with activities outlined will serve as a prerequisite to the erection of a monument in remembrance of our ancestors, the abolition of slavery and the slave trade.

He said to this major activities to be implemented accordingly; some of which have already been initiated.
He highlighted the workings of the UNESCO Scientific Slave Route committee headed by Dr. Ken Ballentyne which was established earlier this year with a mandate to collaborate with the government, civil society and academic institutions under the planning and implementation of UNESCO Slave Root Project activities in the realization which includes the fatality and consequences of the slave trade and slavery


Maynard informed that an important part of the project is to encourage the production of educational materials in the form of a booklet and other friendly learning tools about our own black history as it relates to slavery and the integration of scientific research in the schools curriculum.
 He said further that In addition one of the highlights of this project will be a lecture series in order to further sensitize and educate the general public.


“Obviously the crowning of these initial activities will be the construction, erection and the unveiling of a slave monument that would foster greater sense awareness among the people of St. Kitts and Nevis on the issue of slavery,” the UNESCO official disclosed.


In accordance with him: “A national monument will be the attraction for locals and tourists alike thus enhancing cultural tourism and the teaching and learning guides for teachers and students.”


The feature address was given by Dr. Ballentyne who spoke at about the importance for black people to recognize their roots of slavery with the goal strengthening themselves on the way forward. In his presentation he used the Akan term which, this media house understands means literally, “to go back and get it.”


It was highlighted that one of the Adinkra symbol for Sankofa depicts a mythical Bird flying forward with its head turned backward. It was explained that the egg in its mouth represents the ‘gems’ or knowledge of the past upon which wisdom is based. Moreover, as gathered from Dr. Ballentyne’s presentation, it also signifies the generation to come that would benefit from that wisdom.


Minister of Education and Information and Chairman of the National Commission for UNESCO, Nigel Carty  admonished the people of Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis that "we must not never forget the atrocities that were committed against us" as he too expressed sentiments that encouraged  us all to embrace our roots and culture as a black people.


Highlights of the night saw performances by Nicola Thompson accompanied by the drumming sounds of the Okolo Tegremantine Drummers. She sang 'Swing Low, Sweet Chariot.'  Stephane Vincent recited a poem crafted especially for the occasion.  The night ended with an interactive consultation session as many share their opinions on what could be done in order to sensitize the people of St. Kitts and Nevis about knowing and embracing their African roots.

Press Release (21/07/11)

Precious Mills- Public Relations Committee

St. Kitts-Nevis UNESCO Slave Route Project

Email: stkittsculture@gmail.com

ST. KITTS AND NEVIS “UNESCO National Scientific Slave Route” (UNSSR) Project

The National Committee of the UNESCO Slave Route Project will launch its activities next week Tuesday 19^th July 2011 at the Open Campus of the University of the West Indies.

The UNESCO National Scientific Slave Route Project is part of a global initiative of UNESCO which seeks to contribute to a better understanding of the causes, forms of operation, issues and consequences of slavery in the world (Africa, Europe, the Americas, the Caribbean, the Indian Ocean, Middle East and Asia).

This project launched in 1994 continues to create opportunities to promote mutual understanding, international reconciliation and stability, through consultation and discussion, raise awareness, promote debate and help build consensus on approaches to be taken  on addressing the issue of the slave trade and slavery.

The International Committee identified five closely linked programmes areas where attention should be focused to best achieve the objectives. These strands or pillars are:

* a scientific research programme based on an extensive network of institutions and specialist around the world;

* an educational and academic programme supported by a worldwide UNESCO network of more than 7900 Associated Schools and designed to encourage education specialist to incorporate this tragedy into formal and non-formal curricula;

* a programme on the contribution of the African Diaspora and the promotion of the  living cultures and the artistic and spiritual expressions of the interactions resulting from the slave trade and slavery;

* a programme on the collection and preservation of written archives and oral traditions related to the slave trade;

* a programmme on the identification and preservation of the tangible and intangible heritages related to the slave trade and slavery, in particular, the promotion of the programme on tourism memory

To this end the National Committee of St. Kitts and Nevis formed under the umbrella of the UNESCO Secretariat has convened a number of activities commencing with an Official Launch of the Project.

St. Kitts-Nevis National Committee Chairperson Dr Ken Ballentyne asserts that the committee's plans ties in very well with the Global objectives of the Slave Route Project; "The activities that we will engage in the Federation are:

                        * Lecture Series and Consultations with the public

                        *Research and Documentation - Inventory of Slave Sites in St. Kitts and Nevis and the

                         Production of a Cultural Tourism Map

* Production of Pedagogic Booklets (Local Black History/Slavery) Booklet Launch & Teacher-Training Workshops

'The lecture series and consultations in particular will help to remind persons of how far we've come as a people, and how much we have to be proud of. Slavery was a period of our history which our ancestors overcame, otherwise we wouldn't be here, we shouldn't forget that and we should continue to teach it to our children in such a way that they can feel proud rather than ashamed."

"Through the research and documentation we hope to be able to identify and mark as many sites as possible, this could add to the tourism product of the Federation as these would become places of interest for visitors and locals alike. The work on producing resources for teachers to include in the curriculum will undoubtedly aid in generating interest in our young people in their history and should also revitalize in the youth a sense of connectedness to the past."

Activities commence with the Launch of the Project on Tuesday 19^th July 2011 at the UWI centre. Other activities will be announced following the launch.

Press Release

Orita Bailey- Public Relations Committee

St. Kitts-Nevis UNESCO Slave Route Project

http://www.kittivisianlife.com/

ST. KITTS-NEVIS TOWARDS A NATIONAL CULTURAL POLICY

The Launch of the St. Kitts-Nevis National Cultural Policy Consultations will be held at The Eastern Central Caribbean Bank (ECCB) on Tuesday June 14th 2011 at 7:00pm.  This event marks  the continuation of consultations with Visual, Performing and Culinary Aritsts, Service Providers and Heritage Institutions within the Culture Industry to discover what important issues must be included in the National Cultural Policy.

In February 2010 Ms. Himalchuli Gurung - Program Specialist for Culture UNESCO Kingston Cluster Office met with Antonio Maynard-St. Kitts and Nevis National Commission for UNESCO, Sharon Rattan-Permanent Secretary for Department of Culture and Creighton Pencheon-Director of Culture to inform them that the UNESCO Participation Program would assist them with funding to establish a Cultural Policy for St. Kitts and Nevis.

The preliminary stages to crafting a policy began when consultant Sydney Bartley Director of Culture-Ministry of Education, Youth & Culture Jamaica, selected for his tremendous wealth of experience in the development of Culture and policy, was contracted to facilitate the lengthy process.  The first of many discussions started on June 22nd, 2010 at NEMA Conference Room in Lime Kiln when the Ministry of Culture in collaboration with the UNESCO National Commission engaged the public with topics on Education, Training, Intellectual Property Rights, Marketing, Consumption Tax, Duty Free Concessions, Music and the Tourism Industry.

Policies are necessary guidelines that are put into place to foster the continued development of an entity or in this case a cultural movement.  Without policies in place to make sure that opportunities are earmarked specifically for the cultural sector, growth might stagnate and culture could ultimately die.  That is why the Department of Culture http://www.facebook.com/pages/St-Kitts-Department-of-Culture/117273781646746 is meeting with as many artists, musicians, and cultural practitioners in St. Kitts and Nevis to find out what want issues need to be addressed in the National Cultural Policy, which upon completion will be presented to Cabinet. 

The launch will include informative presentations about crafting a National Cultural Policy, Cultural performances, National Cuisine and an Artist Display area showcasing creative works by painters, writers, sculptors, musicians, producers, photographers, service providers and designers.

ERVIN WELSH  http://beyondtimeless.com/

CLAYTONHUGGINS 

http://www.facebook.com/pages/On-The-Arts-with-P-Clayton-Huggins/115283101840679

CHEVAUGH RICHARDS http://www.facebook.com/saftstockholm/posts/128015580602704

MARVIN CHAPMAN  http://www.resortfularts.org/pdf/Resortful_Arts_Nevis_Stone.pdf

LLEWELLYN CLARKE http://www.definitivecaribbean.com/GenericArticlePopup.aspx?i=179

NIGEL LEWIS http://www.youtube.com/user/trucapo08

CRAFTHOUSE http://stkittscrafthouse.com/

PRESS RELEASE Rev. 12/06/11

Marlene Phillips

Research & Documentation Specialist

St. Kitts Department of Culture

Tel: (869) 467-1396

Email: stkittsculture@gmail.com

Caribbean ICT Roadshow

Officially launched in Grenada on July 28, 2009, the Caribbean ICT Roadshow, is an initiative undertaken by the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU) to raise public awareness and establish strategic programmes to promote the use of ICT in Caribbean countries for national and regional development.  The Roadshow, which consists of lectures, presentations, technology exhibitions etc., visits the islands in the region, with a mandate to educate and promote the use of ICT in government, education, business development and other key areas in society.

http://www.ict4edc.kn/

CULTURE BEAT CREW COVERS ST. KITTS MUSIC FESTIVAL - BEHIND THE SCENES

 Culture Beat is an informative television series produced by St. Kitts Department of Culture that features the history, heritage and culture of St. Kitts-Nevis.  Learn about the tangible and intangible heritage of a resilient Caribbean people.  Join us on the beat and experience their vibrant lifestyle expressed through the creative industries (Music, Drumming, Dance, Folklore, Visual Arts, Literary Arts, Culinary Arts, Crafts, Traditions and more....)

"CULTURE BEAT" was 'BEHIND THE SCENE'S" at St. Kitts Music Festival and gut up close and personal with some of the Artists performing on the main stage.

  Last year St. Kitts Music Festival partnered with St. Kitts Department of Culture "Research and Documentation Unit" to give persons interested in pursuing a career in broadcasting an opportunity to gain some real experience.

Marlene Phillips, Research and Documentation Specialist at St. Kitts Department of Culture, facilitated a Workshop funded by the "Organization of American States" entitled, "Itpreneurship”, to train persons with the following skills; Research, Documentation, Video Camera Operation, Digital Camera Operation, Interview Techniques and Story Board creation.  Their practical assignment involved writing and producing a mini-documentary about any aspect of intangible heritage in St. Kitts-Nevis.  Their imagination and hard work produced the following programs, published on "Culture Beat SKN TV: Valon Masquerade, Conkie-Vanta Archibald - School Days, Annie Fontaine Tours and Snapper. http://blip.tv/culture-beat-skn-tv 

Trying to create additional opportunities, Ms. Phillips approached St. Kitts Music Festival Executive Director Allister Williams to explore the possibility of giving some of the trained students a chance to apply their learned skills in the real environment of the music festival.  The concept was well received, "Culture Beat" was given access and funding was provided by ICT4EDC Project SKN http://www.ict4edc.kn.  Two students,  Kristin Hodge and Jolanie Johnson were selected to be part of the "Culture Beat" crew and documented Hi-lights of St. Kitts Music Festival.  Camera Man Jolanie Johnson takes his cue from Kristen while she's talking to Star Shield at the Media Tent behind the St. Kitts Music Festival stage in Warner Park

OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT FOURTH TRAVELLING CARIBBEAN FILM SHOWCASE

To: Filmmakers, audiovisual professionals and cultural institutions from the Caribbean and its Diaspora.
Dear friends:

With absolute certainty, it has been affirmed that the history of Caribbean is the history of its migrations.
Considering the existence of an extended Caribbean Diaspora and its importance on the consolidation of the
Caribbean nations and their current economical, social and cultural lives, and taking into consideration the
realities of the life of the Caribbean emigrants at the former metropolises and other countries of the world,
thus recognizing the inter‐regional migration of the Caribbean dynamics – a distinctive characteristic of
familiarities and similarities within the diversity of this community of nations: The Travelling Caribbean Film Showcase, in its 4th edition will focus on “The Caribbean Diaspora, challenges
of a reality and its images”.

Taking into consideration the fundamental contribution of African people and cultures, to the conformation of
Caribbean nations and cultures, and the important presence of this legacy in them, the 4th Showcase will
focalize on the aforementioned subject matters in accordance with UN’s purposes when naming 2011 as the
International Year for People of African Descent”.

Just like in previous editions, the 4th Travelling Caribbean Film Showcase will be a wide‐ranging and diverse
event in genres and themes of films. Its program will be integrated by a selection of Caribbean authors’ works
that, residing at their motherlands or being part of the great Caribbean Diaspora, express in their works, with
artistic validity, authentic contents about culture, history and social situations of the countries of the region.
Without implication of thematic restrictions in the genres of fiction, documentary, short film and animation,
the 4th Travelling Caribbean Film Showcase will put especial interest on the films with artistic validity that
reveal the realities and challenges of Caribbean emigrants at the very region or in the vast Diaspora of our
countries all over the world.

The Travelling Caribbean Film Showcase includes proposed and selected works that, made by no Caribbean
authors about themes that concern countries of the region, are in accordance with the cultural purposes of the
event.

The creation of a program of films dedicated to children and youths is of particular interest, which must be,
once again, an important section of the Showcase devoted to those audiences. As established in the regulations of this event, an International Selection Committee will have the responsibility
of choosing the films that will integrate the 4th Travelling Caribbean Film Showcase. This International
Selection Committee will be made up of moviemakers, movie specialists and authorities that represent the
different cultural and linguistic areas of the region

For copyright protection, the Showcase establishes in its regulations that the works integrating the programs,
can only be projected within the event, as a promotional non‐lucrative exhibition. The persons in charge of the
Coordination Committee, or institutions in charge of the organization of the Showcase presentation in each
country, signs a legal Agreement where these conditions are established.

In case that, as a result of the exhibition of the showcase, any of the works that integrate this program turns
outs of interest for any distributor, exhibitor or TV channel, the Office of the Travelling Caribbean Film
Showcase will put the author/producer/owner of the commercial rights of the film in contact with the
interested part, free of charges. Likewise, each author included in the official program of the showcase will
receive his/her film in DVD format, subtitled in Spanish, English, and French languages, as the case may be.
On these bases:

The Travelling Caribbean Film Showcase Office calls the moviemakers and cultural institutions of the Region
to send the works that will be considered to integrate the official program of the 4th Travelling Caribbean
Film Showcase.
Films should be sent in digital format (DVD, DVCAM), accompanied of their synopses, promotional materials and lists of dialogue or text of the story.

NEW admission deadline of the films: June 20th, 2011.
Address:
Oficina de la Muestra Itinerante de Cine del Caribe
Calle 12 No 555 entre 25 y 23, Vedado
Ciudad de La Habana, Cuba
CP: 10400

Registration form is attached along with the procedures of the Travelling Caribbean Film Showcase,
regulations that must be complied by those interested in participating in this event.
E‐mail contacts:
President rigoberto@muestracaribe.icaic.cu
presidencia@muestracribe.icaic.cu
Main Specialist jessica@muestracaribe.icaic.cu
Coordination Specialist ariana@muestracaribe.icaic.cu
Communication Specialist anabel@muestracaribe.icaic.cu
Executive Secretary marthalu@muestracaribe.icaic.cu
Website: www.caribefilm.com
Telephones: (537) 836 17 38 / (537) 836 83 91

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT
Marlene Phillips - Chairperson 
St. Kitts Organizing Committee -Traveling Caribbean Film Showcase
Research & Documentation Specialist - St. Kitts Department of Culture
Tel: (869) 467-1396 or Email: stkittsculture@gmail.com

ST. KITTS MUSIC FESTIVAL, MUSIC DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP 2009

The 2009 Music Development Workshop held by the St. Kitts Music Festival and sponsored by the Royal St. Kitts Hotel and Casino and took place on Friday 26^th June 2009 at the Royal St. Kitts Hotel and Casino conference Room from 3pm until 4.30pm. The facilitators were the members of the Southern Comfort Band of Texas USA.

The Southern Comfort   Band is the band that accompanied Regina Belle at the St. Kitts Music Festival on Saturday 27^th June 2009. The band comprised of 10 members which included: One Drummer,   One Keyboardist, One  Bass player, One Saxophonist,  Three Singers,  Two Production Officers(engineers),  One Road Manager.

A section of the participants

The workshop attracted musicians, music lovers, and music students who were drawn from both St. Kitts and Nevis. This workshop commenced with the band playing a jazz piece which was composed by the band members. What followed was a lively interactive session.  After each selection there was a question and answer session which proved very fruitful for the participants.  Some of the high points were the playing and tuning of the seven string bass guitar, and the correct way of using a microphone. The facilitators were able to deliver proper answers for all the questions and each participant came away more knowledgeable about the use and control of the microphone, voice and breathing   exercises   and instrument practice routines.

Another section of the participants

The   workshop ended with light refreshments provided by the sponsor, and it also afforded an opportunity for the participants to interact one on one with the band members.  At this time we were graced with a surprise visit by Mrs. Regina Belle.

The Music Festival committee will continue to provide a variety of workshops annually during the Festival Season.

The Southern Comfort Band

The Music Festival Committee will like to take this opportunity to thank the management of the Royal St. Kitts Hotel and Casino for the sponsorship provided and look forward for continued support from the private sector in the future in order to continue our Music Development Workshops and Fringe Activities.

For More Information Contact:

Nigetl Williams - Chairperson

St. Kitts Music Festival - Music Development Workshop

Music Specialist - St. Kitts Department of Culture

(869) 467-1388 Email: legincih@hotmail.com