PHILIPSBURG --The St. Maarten National Commission for UNESCO and the Department of Culture organised working sessions on May 9 and May 18 to review, supplement and finalise the First Draft National Intangible Cultural Heritage Inventory List of St. Maarten.
One of the goals of the sessions was for non-governmental organisations (NGOs), non-profit organisations, the Culture Department and the UNESCO Office to deliberate and plan how and what will be done to help preserve, record and revitalize St. Maarten’s heritage.
In attendance were representatives of National Institute of Arts, Helping Hands Foundation (Seniors and Pensioners), Cole Bay Theatre Company, Nature Health Club Foundation, ECO Agriculture /Spaceless Gardens, SXM Our Creations Arts and Crafts Foundation, St. Maarten Museum, St. Maarten Archaeological Centre Simarc, Archives Monument Council, culture activists in the community, the Culture Department and the UNESCO Office.
According to a press release from the Ministry of Culture, It was crucial to have a cross-section of heritage experts/professionals, tradition bearers and practitioners at the meeting to ensure these persons/organisations gave their feedback on St. Maarten's First National Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) Inventory which is in its finalised stage before being submitted to the Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports (ECYS) and the Council of Ministers by July.
The Draft National ICH Inventory of St. Maarten has been compiled after two national consultations were held in July 2014 and September 2016. A national survey was conducted in June 2016 where more than 230 persons in the community gave their opinions and examples of St. Maarten’s Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Meetings with elders and senior citizens were also held, and information gathering sessions with individuals and foundations in the community. Secretary General of UNESCO Marcellia Henry said that she is happy with the progress that has been made and thanked the Culture Department, the ICH Committee, the heritage experts/professionals, elders, and the community for assisting the UNESCO Office and the Culture Department with the compiling of this vital information about St. Maarten’s cultural heritage.
A meeting with the NGOs/non-profit organisations on how to become a UNESCO affiliated and certified ICH organisation was also organised on May 16. Richenel Ansano, the past director of the National Archaeological Anthropological Memory (NAAM) and a UNESCO ICH facilitator, led and facilitated the session.
Ansano shared with the NGO/non-profit organisations the role of NGOs in implementing the ICH Convention and discussed how they can benefit from being an accredited UNESCO-affiliated NGO. Some of the benefits include the possibility of being called on to assist with evaluation of ICH nominations to UNESCO and of assistance requests in the framework of the consultative body.
Another benefit was that these accredited NGOs can engage in international networks, cooperation and exchange, and may be invited to Committee meetings for consultation. Ansano also shared that presently there are only two accredited NGOs in the Caribbean region: Centre des musiques et danses traditionnelles et populaires de Guadeloupe and National Archaeological and Anthropological Memory Management (Curaçao).
Ansano encouraged the NGOs/non-profit organisations to seek out accreditation, as too few organisations in the Caribbean region are UNESCO certified.
Another outcome of the meeting was that the majority of the NGOs/non-profit organisations present agreed to submit forms to UNESCO to become accredited ICH NGOs by July 2018. Other NGOs/non-profit organisations interested in becoming UNESCO accredited and affiliated can contact Marcellia Henry at 721-520-3051 or email
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