DIASPORA FOUNDING CONFFERENCE – AUGUST 2-3, 2011 TUESDAY AFTERNOON SESSION QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS ARISING FROM THE PRESENTATION BY RETURNING NATIONALS (DISCUSSION) • INCENTIVES FOR RETURNING NATIONALS – TRANSACTING BUSINESS WITH EASE o H.E. ROUSE: INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AT THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE AND AT MISSIONS ABROAD OUTLINING WHAT RETURNING NATIONALS ARE ENTITLED TO. • CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT – ▪ WHETHER THERE ARE RULES GOVERNING RADIO STATION SUCH AS A MEDIA POLICY, BECAUSE THE PARTICIPANT NOTICES THAT RADIO STATIONS DO NOT INFORM AND EDUCATE LISTENERS. ▪ ARE MEDIA WORKERS GIVEN CLASSES BEFORE BEING EMPLOYED? ▪ QUALITY OF MUSIC IS DECLINING. MUSIC USED TO BE TAUGHT IN SCHOOLS AS WELL AS SONG WRITING AND POETRY – IS IT STILL IN THE SCHOOL CURRICULA? • HOUSING FOR RETURNING NATIONALS – THE PRESENT QUALITY OF CARE AT RETIREMENT HOMES IN GRENADA FOR RETURNING NATIONALS IS NOT IMPRESSIVE. IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT COMMUNAL HOUSING SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AS A MEANS OF ENCOURAGING RETIRED GRENADIANS ABROAD TO RETURN HOME. ALSO, THE HOUSING FACILITIES SHOULD BE REGULATED AND HAVE TRAINING IN HOSPITALITY SERVICES FOR STAFF. • FINANCIAL REGULATION – INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE IN THE AREA OF PENSIONS, FINANCE, PORT, SECURITY AND HEALTH WOULD BE APPRECIATED • PLANNING BEFORE INTEGRATION – IT WAS ADVISED THAT PERSONS PLANNING TO RETURN HOME SHOULD START A PROCESS OF PLANNING SINCE GRENADA AS THEY KNEW IT WHEN THEY DEPARTED SOME 40-50 YEARS AGO HAS CHANGED CONSIDERABLY. PRESENTATION – CULTURE BY DR. MERLE COLLINS, REPRESENTING –THE GRENADIAN DIASPORA – WASHINGTON DC, METROPOLITAN AREA AN INITIATIVE GUIDED BY THE DIASPORA OF VARIOUS CULTURES SUCH AS THE JEWISH, AFRICAN, INDIAN AND IRISH AND THEIR EXPERIENCES BACKED BY SCHOLARLY DEFINITIONS OF AN ALREADY EXISTING PHENOMENON. 1 THE GRENADIAN CULTURE IS A DIASPORIC CULTURE COMPRISED OF VARIOUS INFLUENCES SUCH AS ENGLISH, FRENCH AND AFRICAN TRADITIONS. IN THIS REGARD, THE FOLLOWING THEMES AND ISSUES WERE PRESENTED BY THE WASHINGTON DC GROUP FOR CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT – 1. PRESERVATION OF ARTIFACTS, ARCHIVES, ARCHAEOLOGY, AMERINDIAN HERITAGE SITES. 2. RESEARCH ON CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS: RITUALS INVOLVED IN WEDDINGS, SARACCA/SALACCA, INDIAN CULTURE AND OTHER CULTURAL TRADITIONS 3. PROPER RESEARCH AND PRESERVATION OF ARCHAELOGICAL SITES 4. DESIGNATION OF SITES IN GDA, CCOU AS CULTURAL SITES – CARRIACOU IS AN ISLAND OF TREMENDOUS INTEREST – BIG DRUM NATION (CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL SIGNIFCANCE), TOMB STONE FESTIVALS, WEDDING CELEBRATIONS 5. RESEARCH ON BOAT BUILDING TRADITIONS IN CARRIACOU AND PETITE MARTINIQUE 6. THE GRENADIAN VERNACULAR AND INFLUENCES FROM WESTERN AFRICA (PRESERVATION OF CREOLE, PATOIS) 7. IDENTIFICATION OF ARTEFACTS SUCH AS SLAVE PENS IN SITES THROUGHOUT THE TRI-ISLAND STATE 8. RESEARCH, DOCUMENTATION, LOCATION AND PROPER IDENTIFICATION OF ARTEFACTS RELATED TO THE HISTORY OF GRENADA, CARRIACOU AND PETITE MARTINIQUE – FOR EXAMPLE, THE MAUSOLEUM OF LOUIS LA GRENADE AT MORNE JALOUX, ARTEFACTS RELATED TO THE FEDON REBELLION, AT GOUYAVE AND/OR OTHER LOCATIONS DR. COLLINS EMPHASIZED THAT HISTORY, CULTURE AND POLITICS IS IMPORTANT AND THERE IS A DIRE NEED FOR PRESERVATION OF DOCUMENTS AND ARCHIVES – PROJECTS SHOULD BE DEVISED. ALSO, PRESERVATION OF MATERIAL FROM 1979-1983 PERIOD IS IMPERATIVE. WITH THIS IN MIND, A PLAN OF ACTION WAS PRESENTED WHICH INCLUDED THE FOLLOWING: • PRESERVING ARCHIVES – TO RECONSTRUCT THE GRENADIAN HISTORY AND BETTER UNDERSTAND THE COLONIAL AND POST COLONIAL PERIODS. • DESIGNATE CULTURAL HERITAGE SITES SUCH AS: o CARRIACOU – AN ISLAND OF TREMENDOUS INTEREST WITH CULTURAL PRACTICES AND TRADITIONS THAT ARE STILL MAINTAINED TO DATE. 2 o ST. GEORGE’S MARKET SQUARE - AN HISTORICAL SITE WHICH SHOULD BE CONSIDERED THE CENTRALITY OF OUR CULTURE – RESEARCH, DOCUMENT. () CHURCHES – ANGLICAN CHURCH IN SAUTEURS, PRESBYTERIAN (INDIAN DOCUMENTATION) o BUILDINGS TO BE IDENTIFIED AS CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL INTERESTS – OLD WOODEN HOUSES IN CARRIACOU AND PETITE MARTINIQUE, SEDAN CHAIR PORTICO BUILDING ON CHURCH STREET o OTHER SITES: SLAVE PEN – HERMITAGE (SOME SITES ARE ON PRIVATE LAND – URGE PROPER LEGAL PROCEDURES FOR EASY ACCESS AS CULTURAL HERITAGE SITES) • RESEARCH AND RECORDING: o TRADITIONAL WEDDING DANCING OF THE CAKE o NEED FOR PRESERVATION IN PRINT AND DVD - STORY OF LIMLEAR AND MT PLEASANT MAROONS IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THESE GOALS, IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT WE SEEK TRAINING IN ARCHIVES AND EXPLORE THE POSSIBILITY OF PRESENTING PROJECTS TO UNESCO (HERITAGE COMMITTEE), OAS AND/OR OTHER SIMILAR INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS; WORK WITH THE ST. GEORGE’S HERITAGE SOCIETY AND CARRIACOU HISTORICAL SOCIETY; PLACING PLAQUES AT HISTORICAL SITES AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A MUSEUM IN CCOU – CRAIGSTON/BELAIR PARK – THE WASHINGTON DC GROUP ENDED THE PRESENTATION OPTIMISTICALLY, LOOKING FORWARD TO WORK COOPERATIVELY TO IMPLEMENT THE PLANS WHICH WERE PRESENTED. PRESENTATION ON SPORTS – HON. PATRICK SIMMONS THE MINISTER RE-ITERATED THE IMPORTANCE OF TEAMWORK & LINKS WITHIN THE DIASPORA. HE REFERRED TO THE JAMAICAN MODEL AT PENN RELAYS ORGANIZATION DONE BY THE DIASPORA IN CONSULTATION WITH THE OLYMPICS COMMITTEE – GDA PLACED THIRD IN 2011 (BEATING JAMAICA). NEW STRUCTURE OF SPORTS IN GDA – 2010 COMPLETION OF SPORTS POLICY – NEW IMPETUS AND NEW DIRECTION FOR SPORTS IN THE COUNTRY NATIONAL SPORTS COUNCIL – SETTING DIRECTION OF DEVELOPMENT OF SPORTS – COMPRISED OF COUNCILS OF ALL PARISHES (FOR EX. INDIVIDUAL PARISH COUNCIL WILL INFORM NATIONAL COUNCIL OF THEIR NEEDS) THEREFORE EACH PARISH WOULD HAVE REPRESENTATION ON THE NATIONAL COUNCIL – EACH PARISH HAS ONE VOTE. (DIASPORA CAN LIAISE DIRECTLY WITH THEIR PARISH AND MAKE A CONTRIBUTION TO THE NATIONAL COUNCIL THROUGH THEIR PARISH COUNCIL) 3 DISCUSSION ON PRESENTATION ON CULTURE AND SPORTS MALAIKA LOWE – BASED IN GDA – EXPRESSED THAT CULTURE SHOULD BE A WAY OF LIFE. IT SHOULD BE VISUAL AND YOUNG PEOPLE MUST SEE THEMSELVES AS PART OF IT. MORE LOCAL WORKS SHOULD BE MADE AVAILABE TO OUR YOUNG PEOPLE AND THE POPULATION IN GENERAL. THE WORK THAT IS MADE AVAILABLE DETERMINES OUR FUTURE. MORE LOCAL CULTURAL WORKS NEED TO BE PRODUCED. ADDITIONALLY SOME FELT THAT CARIBBEAN STUDIES SHOULD BE INCLUDED ON THE TAMCC CURRICULUM. ISSUE OF OLYMPICS – LONDON 2012 – SO FAR GRENADA HAS 5 ATHLETES 3 FROM ST. JOHNS – JOEL REDHEAD, JANELLE REDHEAD – 200 M, RONDELLBARTHOLOMEW AND KIRANI JAMES – 400 M, RANDY LEWIS – TRIPLE JUMP FROM ST. ANDREW’S. PS VICTOR INDICATED THAT THE COMMITTEE IS LOOKING FOR MORAL AS WELL AS FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR ATHLETES. DIASPORA CAN GIVE SUPPORT (ALSO MORAL) THROUGH VARIOUS AVENUES INCLUDING SUPPORT WITH FUNDRAISERS IN THE DISAPORA. PRESENTATION BY YOUTH – UK – BY RAEDONNA GRIFFITH A YOUTH FORUM WAS CONVENED IN LONDON THROUGH THE ORGANIZATION OF THE GRENADA HIGH COMMISSION IN LONDON WHICH LED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE DIASPORA YOUTH FORUM (DYF). THE DYF PRESENTED A PAPER ON TH EDUCATION AND SKILLS. MS. GRIFFITH EXPLAINED THAT 2ND, 3RD AND 4TH GENERATIONS OF GRENADIANS IN THE DIASPORA HAVE LOST TOUCH WITH THEIR CULTURE AND TRADITIONS OF THEIR HOMELAND. THEREFORE THE ROLE OF THE DYF IS TO PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE OF GRENADA DESCENT TO: 1. UNDERSTAND AND WORK TOWARD PROMOTING THEIR GRENADA HERITAGE 2. UNDERSTAND AND PROMOTE THE GRENADIAN HERITAGE THROUGH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF COLLABORATIONS WITH YOUNG GRENADIANS AT HOME AND ABROAD 3. EXPRESS VIEWS THROUGH VARIOUS FORUMS AND TAKING STEPS TOWARDS MAKING A POSITIVE AND EFFECTIVE CONTRIBUTION TO GRENADA’S YOUTH AGENDA 4 YOUTH ENGAGEMENT THROUGH CULTURAL TIES USING SOCIAL MEDIUM SUCH AS FACEBOOK, EMAILS AND FACE-TO-FACE CONTACT WILL BE UTILIZED TO PRESERVE THE GRENADIAN HERITAGE, SHARE EXPERIENCES AND CREATIVELY ENGAGE WITH THEIR HISTORY. IN AN EFFORT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS MEANS TO BE A GRENADIAN, THE FOLLOWING WERE EXECUTED: 1. LISTENING TO THE PEOPLE – ATTENDING THE DCC OUTREACH PROGRAMME 2. ENGAGING THROUGH SOCIAL NETWORKS 3. EDUCATION THROUGH FILM – “FIRE IN BABYLON” 4. CULTURAL/CUSTOM EXHIBITION – HERITAGE DAY PROPOSALS PUT FORWARD BY THE DYF TOWARDS GRENADA’S DEVELOPMENT INCLUDED: • GRENADIAN AND UK STUDENTS - SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE EXCHANGES • CREATION OF A FORUM FOR STUDENTS TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK ON AREAS IN WHICH THEY BELIEVE DEVELOPMENT IS NEEDED. • ESTABLISHING TECHNICAL AND TRADE SKILLS FOR YOUNG GRENADIANS TO BE OUTLINED AND SUPPORTED BY A PRIVATE-PUBLIC SECTOR COLLABORATIVE VENTURE • HELP TO DEVELOP YOUTH INTEREST IN STRUGGLING SECTORS SUCH AS AGRICULTURE BY, POSSIBLY, INTRODUCING AFTER SCHOOL PROJECTS THROUGHOUT DIFFERENT SCHOOLS • USE THE 2012 LONDON OLYMPICS AS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE OUR CULTURAL AND SPORTING HERITAGE PRESENTATION BY YOUTH – NEW YORK – BY NORINE WALL, MARISSA MITCHELL & REVA LEWIS THIS PRESENTATION WAS FROM THE GRENADIAN-AMERICAN YOUNG WOMEN ASSOCIATION WHO HELD A YOUTH CONFERENCE IN NEW YORK ON MAY 14TH, 2011. THE PRESENTATION WAS DIVIDED INTO FIVE (5) TOPICS: YOUTH & EDUCATION; HEALTH, SPORTS, CULTURE AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY WHICH IS CONSIDERED TO ASSIST OVERALL DEVELOPMENT. IT FOCUSED ON HOW THE YOUTH IN THE DIASPORA CAN IMPACT ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF YOUTH IN GRENADA. The GOALS OF THE ASSOCIATION IS AS FOLLOWS: • GREATER EMPHASIS ON EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION • EARLY DETECTION OF LEARNING DISABILITIES AND CHALLENGES – FOCUS ON MENTAL HEALTH 5 • IMPROVE QUALITY OF TEACHING AND LEARNING – HAVE SUMMER SCHOOL/CLASSES AND HAVE PERSONS ABROAD COME DURING THIS PERIOD TO LEND EXPERTISE AND SKILLS • SOCIALLY PREPARE STUDENTS TO BE PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS OF SOCIETY • CURRICULUM REFOCUS • UPLIFTING STANDARDS OF SCHOOLS – THROUGH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TECHNOLOGICAL