THE Cabinet has given approval for the ratification of the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Olivia Grange, who asked the Cabinet to give approval for the ratification of the convention, said it is "an important tool that would help to ensure that Jamaica's intangible cultural heritage is transmitted from generation to generation."

Intangible cultural heritage refers to the practices, representations, expressions, instruments, objects, artefacts, knowledge and skills that are recognised as part of the cultural heritage of a community, group and, in some cases, an individual.

The minister's announcement about Cabinet's decision to ratify the convention comes almost a month after UNESCO officials, at a meeting of the Observer Monday Exchange, expressed concern about Jamaica's failure to ratify some conventions promoting cultural expansion, which they said was hindering the implementation of related cultural activities in the country.

Everton Hannam, secretary general of the Jamaica National Commission of UNESCO, told Observer reporters and editors then that ratification of the Convention on Underwater Cultural Heritage, which speaks to sites, including Port Royal, and the Convention to Safeguard the Intangible Cultural Heritage were very important to the development of projects in those areas.

Ratification of the Underwater Convention, he said, would assist with the development and implementation of programmes in Port Royal, which is still believed to be an area rich in treasure.

Hannam said, too, that the ratification of the conventions would allow member states to access funds to implement various components of the conventions.

Minister Grange, meanwhile, said ratification of the Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage would provide a legal, administrative and financial framework to safeguard our intangible cultural heritage which she describes as "a living form of heritage which is continuously recreating and evolving as the society adapts practices and traditions in response to the environment".

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade is making the necessary arrangements for Jamaica's ratification of the convention. However, Minister Grange has said that "Jamaica is already benefiting from the convention as the Maroon Heritage of Moore Town was proclaimed as a Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage by UNESCO under the Convention in 2003."

The Maroon Heritage of Moore Town was one of 90 items on the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity when the convention came into force. The minister said its continued presence on the list and continued funding support from UNESCO depended on Jamaica ratifying the convention.

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