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Contact:
John Emmanuel
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Culture Minister Hon. Menissa Rambally and MAC President
Nigel Sadler share head table at 16th AGM and Conference |
Wednesday, July 28, 2004 - Honourable Menissa Rambally, Minister of
Social Transformation, Culture and Local Government has challenged the Museums
Association of the Caribbean (MAC) to embrace the new opportunities opening up
through modern technology, as a means of furthering and enhancing education and
outreach programmes.
The call came at MAC’s week-long, 16th Annual General Meeting and Conference
being held at the Cara Suites Hotel in La Pansee, Castries under the theme “Our
Heritage: Preserve and Present it.”
In her address to the regional grouping, Minister Rambally admonished the
delegates to make full use of modern tools, in attracting and sustaining the
interest of young persons, as they strive to maintain and preserve the rich
cultural identify of the region.
“While the traditional methods of outreach and educational programmes continue,
it is critical that your institution maximize the use of the internet and other
cutting edge technology to reach the present and budding generations,
particularly as the next group of leaders is likely to emerge from that segment
of our society,” Minister Rambally said.
She pointed out that “whether it be sharing of information, or seeking to
attract young people in our own buildings for more in-depth learning, we should
be willing to explore these, whatever it takes.” She advocated for due
recognition to be given to the special attributes of the Caribbean, such as its
size, climate, and relatively colourful history.
According to Minister Rambally, MAC should seek to create a system of museum
operation and procedures, which speak to the differences between life in the
Caribbean and that of the larger, older and more affluent museums of the world.
MAC President, Nigel Sadler has called for a greater effort to be made in
presenting the heritage of the individual countries making up to the region.
“Tourists value the same things in each Caribbean island - the sun, sea and
sand. However, they are lured by marketing and resort experiences to believe
that the Caribbean has a single regional heritage and culture,” he said.
Mr. Sadler is of the view that museums and other heritage organizations must
counter this approach, by not only telling the story of their country, but also
as an advocate to help encourage organizations, such as tourist boards and tour
operators to understand and appreciate what makes each individual Caribbean
country unique, with their culture and heritage being distinct selling points.
He believed that some of the ways of achieving that was to get the local
population to value and participate in its own heritage, and by having tourists
witness local cultural activities within communities as oppose to experiencing
them at prescribed tourist venues.
During the conference, delegates will tour various historical, cultural and
tourism heritage sites on the island.
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