A recently-held convention in Saint Lucia brought together influential voices from both international and governmental spheres to deliberate on the preservation of cultural richness.

Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, Investment, Creative Industries, Culture and Information, Mr. Calvin Lee, articulated the objective of the series of workshops.

“The main purpose of the exercise is to ensure compliance with the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of Diversity in Cultural Expressions. Again it's one of those conventions that Saint Lucia has signed on to, and we can use this particular tool to help document the status of our cultural traditions, our practices and our progress in the cultural sector.”

During the address, Mr. Lee underlined the critical problems that the report aims to address.

“One of the issues perennially that we do not have empirical data to support our activities so this particular exercise will assist us tremendously with compiling empirical data to support future decision making and policy driven activities with regard to our Culture and Creative Industries in Saint Lucia.”

The reports will serve as comprehensive documentation, strategically designed to identify and mitigate challenges that threaten cultural richness. They aim to navigate hurdles related to heritage preservation, indigenous practices, and the proliferation of varied cultural customs.