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Culture Minister, Stephen Lashley; Chief Town Planner, Mark Cummins; and Museum Director, Alissandra Cummins examining a map of??Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison at the launch of Heritage Month in the West Wing of Parliament.(C. Pitt/BGIS)??

Caribbean and Latin American countries who are seeking to become World Heritage sites have been told by UNESCO Officials that they should follow "The Barbados Model".

Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth, Stephen Lashley, made this disclosure at the launch of Heritage Month on Tuesday, which was held in the West Wing of Parliament.

He said last December during a UNSECO meeting in Chile the island had been congratulated for its "professional approach in the publication of what UNSECO officials and others see as an excellent and well-researched text."

Noting that his ministry was the agency responsible for the coordination of the overall management of Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison, he outlined these duties included monitoring what occurred within the site, making regular reports to the Cabinet of Barbados and providing State of Conservation reports to the World Heritage Centre.

The Culture Minister also acknowledged stakeholder commitment to the process then and now was important.?? He added that a management plan for Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison was critical to the successful and effective implementation of many of the plans for the Property.

"Integral to our Management Plan was the establishment of the Barbados World Heritage Committee, which reflects a collaborative approach that takes into account the views and day-to-day operations of all our stakeholders in both the private and public sectors," he said.

Noting success depended on regular and on-going collaboration with stakeholders, he commended the University of the West Indies (UWI), specifically the History Department, for providing "sterling service" from the time the nomination process had begun.

"UWI worked unstintingly in researching and documenting the history of the Property as we prepared the Nomination Dossier. I want to offer my sincerest and heartiest thanks to the team for their tireless work," he observed, while adding, "UWI has continued to work with us, most recently in the training of teachers in primary and secondary schools."

Chairman of the Barbados World Heritage Committee, Mark Cummins, also lauded the efforts of the stakeholders, explaining that the dynamics between the committee members contributed to inscription.

He said the Barbados World Heritage Committee was the established body to execute the overall responsibilities of the World Heritage Convention.?? He also pointed out the committee’s tasks included the management of all World Heritage Sites, inscribed and tentative, in accordance with the Laws of Barbados and international cultural heritage conventions and standards to which the island was a signatory.

The Barbados World Heritage Committee was established by the Cabinet.??It comprises the Permanent Secretary or representative from the Ministry of Tourism; the Chief Technical Officer or a representative in the Ministry of Transport and Works; the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Culture; the Director of the National Heritage Department; a representative from the Barbados Institute of Architects; a representative from the Barbados Chamber of Commerce and Industry; a representative from the Barbados National Trust; the Director of the Barbados Tourism Investment Inc.; the Director of the Barbados Museum and Historical Society; the Chief Town Planner in the Town and Country Planning Development Office; Chief Surveyor or representative; the Director of Coastal Zone Management Unit and the University of the West Indies.

shamkoe.pile@barbados.gov.bb

Author: Shamkoe Pil??

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