Jamaica successful in bid for seat on another UNESCO Committee
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaica has been successful in securing a place on yet another high-profile UNESCO Committee.
According to the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the country was elected unopposed to a seat on the Intergovernmental Committee of the Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH), at the General Assembly of the Convention which ended today in Paris, France.
The Jamaican delegation was led by Portfolio Minister, Olivia Grange.
“Jamaica expresses its sincere thanks for the overwhelming support we have received. We are heartened by the show of camaraderie particularly by St Kitts and Nevis, who withdrew and in the end provided full backing for Jamaica to sit on the Committee. We do not take this level of support for granted,” said Grange in reacting to the successful bid.
The election to the committee marks the first time Jamaica is to serve on this prestigious UNESCO body.
It was only last November that Jamaica completed a successful four-year mandate on the World Heritage Committee.
Meanwhile, in addressing the General Assembly, Grange encouraged countries that are party to the convention to make every effort to build capacity within local communities to increase sustainable development for creative practitioners, culture bearers and the community at large, the ministry said in a release.
The minister emphasised the role which Jamaica’s intangible heritage has played in shaping the country’s identity and in providing economic benefits to communities and individuals in Jamaica.
“Jamaica is proud of the fact that the musical heritage of the Maroons has been recognised through its inscription in 2008. We also look forward to future inscriptions of our Reggae music and the new religion of Rastafari, which we have given the world. Jamaica encourages all countries to seek to work towards recognition of their indigenous elements through inscription,” said Grange.
The following 12 countries are now members of the committee:
Group I — The Netherlands
Group II — Azerbaijan, Poland
Group III — Jamaica
Group IV — China, Japan, Kazakhstan, Sri Lanka
Group V(a) — Cameroon, Djibouti, Togo
Group V (b) — Kuwait
