BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE Department of Culture is currently hosting a two-day workshop at the Bird Rock Beach Hotel to consult various stakeholders with a view to finalizing the final draft for the National Culture Policy.
Addressing participants yesterday (Jun. 1) at the opening of the workshop, Director of Culture Troy Mills described the occasion as “auspicious”, while noting that they are approaching the end of a long journey that started in 2010.
He explained that back then, initial works on the Policy were completed by a facilitator out of Jamaica and a draft was submitted in 2011; however, “nothing has been done until now”.
In giving an insight into the purpose of the Policy document, Minister of Culture Hon. Shawn Richards explained that the Federation’s culture is “a statement of who we are as a people”, their behaviours, habits and values, while stressing that artifacts of St. Kitts and Nevis speak to the existence and make-up of the tangible and intangible heritage of the country.
“It is the spirit of the National Policy to capture the unique identity and to preserve, protect and promote that identity in a manner that would bring benefit to all of the people of St. Kitts and Nevis.”
He noted that “while the Cultural Policy potentially embraces a multiplicity of possible outcomes, there are three key pillars which form the foundation of this Government’s new vision for the cultural and creative sector”. Richards said.
The Minister said the three pillars are: Promotion and Advancement of a National Identity; Protection and Preservation of the Culture; and Tapping into the potential of the Creative Industry.
Based on those pillars, the Policy is expected to bring benefits to a wide cross-section of stakeholders within the industry, including those in the art forms and designers.
According to the Minister, the social climate that has evolved in St. Kitts and Nevis over the last several years questions “if we have the understanding where we came from and how exactly did we get here”.
“The promotion of our national identity is key in the rebirth of our communities and the eradication of the social ills of poverty, obesity and even violence. So, the answer to many of our social ills exists in our heritage, our health, our food, our wealth in our creativity, and the strength in our community resides in our resilience of our people,” Richards intimated.
He added that the roots of the nation’s social development are firm and deep within the country’s culture.
Meanwhile, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Culture, Stanley Knight stated that the goals upon completion of the Cultural and Creative Industry Policy is to “free us of our old habits, of our negative cultures and [to] embrace our positive cultures”.
