Latest update March 24th, 2025 7:05 AM
CARICOM mobilizes to help develop cultural entrepreneurs
…sets up task force for forward planning
The setting up of a Regional Task Force on Cultural Industries will provide the vision, the strategy, the policy initiatives and the actions needed to stimulate the further development of the Caribbean’s cultural industries.
This is according to the Secretary General of the CARICOM Secretariat, Dr. Edwin Carrington, during the launching and inaugural meeting of the Regional Task Force on Cultural Industries at the CARICOM Secretariat yesterday.
Dr. Carrington said that there is sufficient evidence from the many studies and from the many successful artists, writers, performers and festivals that the Region’s cultural products are competitive, important to the regional economy and central to the people’s identity and advancement.
Edwin Carrington
The Task Force has been set up, not to rehash what has been done before, he said, but to make recommendations for actions on the part of member-states.
This is to provide cultural entrepreneurs and artists in the Region with the incentives, financial support, the policies and the legislation necessary to enable the sector to grow and thrive.
“We need cutting edge ideas and approaches from this Task Force – ideas and approaches that will launch many more success stories in music, art, craft, dance, literature, fashion, film and theatre.”
He added that there is need to ensure that new talent and new innovations are constantly encouraged and developed.
The Region also need to coordinate regional approach that will build on and energise and promote the development of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME).
He added that he is especially pleased to see that the Task Force has come to life at this time.
“You are no doubt aware of the enormity of the challenges we currently face in the global arena, which is more than ever, mired in economic uncertainty bordering on chaos.”
The Region recently signed an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Community, which was justified to a great degree on the promise it brings for cooperation in Services and particularly, in regard to the Cultural Industries, he said.
This Task Force will be called upon to play a vital role in guiding the countries in exploiting the provisions of that Agreement in this sector.
He noted that he is therefore pleased to note that the Regional Task Force on Cultural Industries brings together representatives from a wide cross section of relevant sectors: culture, industry; government, trade and finance; educational institutions and the private sector.
The establishment of the Regional Task Force on Cultural Industries was mandated by both the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) and the Council for Human and Social Development (COHSOD), and the Report and recommendations of this Body will be discussed and acted upon by both Ministerial Councils as well as by the Council Finance and Planning (COFAP) and the wider Caribbean Community.
The 20-member Task Force includes representatives of regional organizations including the OECS Secretariat, Caribbean Export, the Caribbean Regional Network Machinery (CRNM) and CARICOM Secretariat.
Also speaking at yesterday’s launch were Assistant CARICOM Secretary General Dr Edward Greene and co-chair of the task force, Saint Lucian born poet and producer, Adrian Augier.
Mr Augier said that the performing artistes have been very successful and that the time is now for the other aspects of culture—the fashion designers, the artists, dancers, and the literary people.
The focus is on a cultural market, Mr Augier said, and the task force will work for a comprehensive regional plan that would provide incentives for the cultural entrepreneurs.
The performing artistes have been very successful and they are no longer destined to be poor. “The artiste of the 21st century has long abandoned the anorexic idea.”
Similar successes must now be the case of the other cultural entrepreneurs, he said.
Suriname’s ambassador to Guyana, Mme Manorma Soeknandan, read a message from Suriname’s President Runaldo Venetiaan, who has lead responsibility for culture, youth, gender and sport.
In the end, Dr Carrington said that the first duty of the task force should be a letter of gratitude to President Venetiaan for the vision he has outlined to the task force.
The inaugural meting ends today.
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