Culture policy to capture identity of St Kitts and Nevis

The St Kitts and Nevis National Cultural Policy, which is currently being revised and finalised at a workshop, must capture the people’s unique identity, according to the deputy prime minister.

It must also preserve, protect and promote that identity in a manner that brings benefit to all citizens, says Shawn Richards, who is also minister of culture.

The ‘Workshop to Revise and Finalize the SKN National Cultural Policy’ was was at the Bird Rock Beach Hotel 1-2 June.

At the opening ceremony, Richards said that “while the cultural policy potentially embraces a multiplicity of possible outcomes, there are three key pillars which form the foundation of the government’s new vision for the cultural and creative sector.”

The first pillar mentioned was the advancement of national identity through the documentation, promotion and harmonisation of cultural values.

Richards said that the social climate in St Kitts and Nevis has gone through an evolution over the years and it raises the question of whether or not citizens understand where they came from and how they arrived.

Historical artefacts

The second tenet of the government’s vision is the protection, preservation and promotion of the federation’s cultural heritage, says the minister.

He said that this includes the country’s tangible heritage such as artefacts and historical sites.

It was mentioned that Brimstone Hill Fortress is already a world heritage site and that the National Trust is currently working on having the capital of Nevis, Charlestown, recognised as the same, as it contains one of the highest densities of historical artefacts per unit area in the western hemisphere.

Multi-trillion dollar sector

The pillar of the government’s vision is the recognition of the potential of the creative industry to be a significant driver of economic growth and activity.

“We know that the revenue created by the community and national festivals is significant. We know that we have persons in the craft and artistic industry, who attempt to make a living off of their creativity,” Richards said.

“We know of persons in the entertainment industry. However, we also know that we do not know what we know.

"If we are to achieve this goal of promoting and facilitating growth of the creative industry to the point of economic significance, it is essential that this national cultural policy embodies mechanisms that capture the appropriate data needed to ensure the creation of strategic initiatives to affect this outcome.”

The minister cited a study carried out by Ernst and Young for UNESCO in the worldwide telecommunication sector, which indicated that that sector made $1.57 trillion in 2015 and the creative and cultural industry made $2.25 trillion.

There must be an understanding of the importance of the policy to the future development of St Kitts and Nevis, he added.