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Contact:
John Emmanuel
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FRC's Founding Member Msgr. Patrick Anthony along with
G.G. H.E. Dame Pearlette Louisy and FRC Chairman Victor Poyotte |
Monday, March 29, 2004 - The idea has been mooted here for more research
to be factored into advancing the economic, social and cultural circumstances of
St. Lucian society. It has come from Governor General, Her Excellency Dame
Pearlette Louisy, who spoke at the opening of the inaugural Studies Conference
at the Folk Research Centre (FRC) on Sunday, March 28, 2004.
The conference forms part of celebrations marking the FRC’s 30th anniversary,
and coincides with the observance of the 25th anniversary of St. Lucia’s
independence. Being held under the theme “Research: A Critical Path to
Development,” Dame Pearlette told her audience, which included local, regional
and international academia, that St. Lucia and by extension the region, had
developed the capacity to create knowledge at home. However, very little of that
knowledge was being used to advance the cause of regional people. Instead, she
said that much emphasis was being placed on overseas based imported know-how.
There were encouraging signs she said, that attitudes towards the value of
indigenous knowledge and expertise were beginning to change. “It is beginning to
be accepted”, she said, “that informal research and traditional wisdom should
also be considered as a valuable part of the knowledge system, and the voices of
local people deserved to be heard, even if it means learning to listen in
different ways.” Dame Pearlette pointed to the need to create local knowledge to
inform policy decisions, in order to chart a developmental course for the island
in the face of today’s strong global currents. She called for a serious look at
revising the overall research agenda and prioritizing research initiatives for
the country.
“We all must have known by now of the high cost and low returns of activities
based on hunches and impressionistic views.” She explained that, “the time to
bring our rigorous, reasoned and documented knowledge to bear on our
educationally, economic, cultural and social policy decisions was now.” The
three-day programme, which among other things, seeks to open-up research work on
St. Lucia to popular scrutiny and understanding includes 17 presentations on a
wide field of research topics, together with a panel discussion on the theme and
a special session in Soufriere.
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Dr. Manfred Kremser |
Sunday’s opening session also heard from the FRC’s Executive Director, Kennedy
“Boot’s” Samuel and Board Chairman Victor Poyotte, who both pointed to the
Studies Conference becoming an annual event on the calendar of activities. The
first presentation was delivered by Professor Manfred Kremser, a leading expert
on African Derived Religious Traditions in the Caribbean. The Monday and Tuesday
sessions are taking place at the Conference Room of the Cultural Development
Foundation at Barnard Hill.
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