KINSTON, Jamiaca - The Haiti Art & Fashion Project, an initiative of the Pulse Foundation, has received the formal endorsement of Caricom. Recently, Trustees of the Foundation, chaired by Lois Sherwood, presented the project to the Most Hon PJ Patterson, former Prime Minister of Jamaica and the Special Representative of Caricom on Haiti. Mr Patterson, who had been advised of the project from inception, accepted the initiative as a key tool for the redevelopment of the cultural and creative sector in Haiti.
Said Patterson’s office in a statement released this week, “Culture represents the ethos and strength of a people, and Haiti has much to offer in this regard”. Patterson emphasized Haiti’s rich cultural legacy and the need to restore and preserve it. He expressed the hope that Haiti would not only be rebuilt, but would be built back better than it was before the devastating earthquake. Patterson further noted that the creative industry was a fairly new sector which had strong commercial and economic impact for countries such as Jamaica and Haiti, given our diversity.
Cooper indicated that as the Executive Producer of Caribbean Fashionweek and as Chairman of the Caribbean Fashion Industry Association (both entities are partners in the Haiti Project), he believes that Haiti’s creative and cultural reconstruction will ultimately be part of, and a catalyst for, a wider development of these industries in the greater Caribbean. The entire region will therefore benefit.
Also in attendance at the Project’s presentation and endorsement at Patterson’s New Kingston office, were Pulse Chairman Kingsley Cooper, General Manager Romae Gordon and Director of the Office of the Special Representative, Maureen Vernon.
Trustees of the Pulse Foundation, apart from Chairman Lois Sherwood, Cooper and Gordon, include Jeffrey Cobham, Business Consultant, former banker, former Chairman of the Edna Manley College of the Performing Arts and current Chairman of the National Dance Theatre Company; Myrtha Désulmé, President of the Haiti Jamaica Society and Eleanor Felix, former Ambassador to Cuba from Jamaica. Ms Sherwood is the Hon. Counsel for Lithuania, a fine artist and business executive. She is of Haitian and Jamaican descent and lived and studied art in Haiti.
The proceeds of a special night of CFW dedicated to Haiti (June 10) will go to the Haiti Art and Fashion Project. Several designers, entertainers and celebrities have indicated an interest in participating in this effort. The initiative will support the rehabilitation and further development of Haiti’s creative arts, fashion and creative business over a five year period. Many everyday Haitians earn a living from this industry.
Pulse intends to work in tandem with Caricom, as well as the international body charged with the responsibility of planning the reconstruction of Haiti as the Project reaches across borders, engaging major international creative industry players and organizations, so as to obtain their active participation and support. Unlike early relief efforts, the Haiti Art & Fashion Project, will be more focused on medium to longer term reconstruction and development in Haiti, and more specifically the creative arts and business sector.
The Project is meant to be a unified international initiative, spearheaded and managed by Caribbean people, for the benefit of the Caribbean nation, with wide local, regional and international support.
Jamaica News