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| Minister of Culture, Stephen Lashley (right)is greeted by Chief Town Planner, Mark Cummins, during a recent Heritage tour in Bridgetown. At centre are World Heritage Committee member, Alissandra Cummins??and Prime Minister??Freundel Stuart. (FP)?? |
Barbados’ Minister of Culture, Stephen Lashley, will lead a delegation to the upcoming United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s 35th Session of the World Heritage Committee in Paris, France.
Those attending the meeting, which will run from June 19 to 29, will include World Heritage Committee members, Alissandra Cummins and Steve Devonish; and Chief Town Planner, Mark Cummins.
Historic Bridgetown with its Garrison has been nominated for inscription as a World Heritage Site and the proposal is expected to be discussed at this meeting.
Historic Bridgetown has been described as a "unique historic site" and it is felt that the tourism sector would accrue the majority of benefits from this inscription.
An official in the Division of Culture and Sports said research had shown that countries with World Heritage Sites had seen an overall increase in visitors somewhere in the region of 30 to 40 per cent. "This nomination would serve as another platform on which to promote Barbados and to encourage visitors," the spokesperson stated.??
The World Heritage Committee, which meets annually in June, reviews the state of conservation of designated properties and determines the various actions which should be taken to support their safeguarding.?? The Committee also inscribes new ones on the World Heritage List.