Caribbean Coalition of Cultural Diversity
by KrisRampersad | March 18, 2012 at 8:19 PM
A Caribbean coalition for cultural diversity has been established to advocate regional cultural positions relating to the UNESCO convention on the protection and promotion of the diversity of cultural expressions, Barbados' Nation Newspaper reported on Dec. 7.
The coalition was announced during the creativity and innovation assembly of the Commonwealth People's Forum which took place just prior to the Commonwealth Heads of Governments Meeting in Trinidad last month.
"Initially, the coalition will focus on mobilising the cultural sector across the region to advocate that governments that have not yet done so ratify the 2005 UNESCO Convention," said Kris Rampersad.
Worldwide, some 103 states have ratified such an agreement, but in the English-speaking Caribbean, only Barbados, Grenada, Jamaica, St Lucia, and St Vincent and the Grenadines have done so. Trinidad and Tobago has not yet ratified and there is an active cultural lobby to have the government do so.
