Cuba to send delegation for CFW 2010
IN a bid to strengthen cultural exchanges and cooperation among the countries in the Caribbean, executives of Pulse Investments Limited, organisers of Caribbean Fashionweek, recently met with Cuban officials to discuss that island’s representation at the annual event.
Cuban Ambassador to Jamaica, Yuri Gala Lopez, expressed a keen interest in the event and also pledged Cuba’s support for Pulse’s newest creative industry initiative — The Haiti Art and Fashion Project, a release from Pulse stated.
Announced at the 10th anniversary launch of Caribbean Fashionweek (CFW), the Haiti Art and Fashion Project will support the rehabilitation and further development of Haiti’s creative arts, fashion and business industries, which were dealt a major blow in the wake of its recent 7.0 magnitude earthquake.
Ambassador Lopez, who was in attendance at the launch of CFW 10 was impressed with the project and offered to render his consulate’s assistance where possible. Lopez commented that Cuba could relate to Haiti’s crisis having been heavily impacted by Category Four Hurricane Gustav in 2008. “The impact that the creative industry had on an ailing nation was profound and we can understand the overwhelming importance of the Haiti Art and Fashion Project and how necessary it is to restore and develop this sector,” the ambassador said. He added that Cuba had worked systematically with Haiti for the past several years, in an effort to aid development there. In addition to the Ambassador’s endorsement of the Haiti Art and Fashion Project, he also indicated that Cuba would be facilitating the participation of a delegation of designers, models and performing artists from that country to participate in CFW.
Pulse CEO Kingsley Cooper noted that it will be Cuba’s first time participating in the event, ” …for a good purpose, to raise funds and awareness for Haiti’s restoration and development of its creative industries.”
The Haiti Art and Fashion Project is spearheaded by the Pulse Foundation with the support of Caribbean Fashionweek (CFW) and has been endorsed by the government of Haiti.
