By David Jordan
CASTRIES, St Lucia – Caribbean Ties Exhibition spearheaded by Leiden University in collaboration with the Saint Lucia Archaeological and Historical Society and the Holy Trinity Anglican Church (SAHS/HTC) was a great success. This was the consensus from a review by representatives of organizations that participated in the five-week exhibition hosted at the historical Holy Trinity Anglican School Annex from August 1-September 8, 2021.
The joint chairman SAHS/HTC thanked all members of the organizing committee and the private sector including Peter and Company, Carasco and Sons, 1st National Bank, St Lucia Distillers, the government of Saint Lucia and the ministry of tourism who all collaborated in enabling the success of the exhibition.
The review held on September 14 was chaired by Monsignor Patrick Anthony and was attended by representatives of the Saint Lucia Archaeological Historical Society (SAHS) Holy Trinity Church, National Trust, UWI Open Campus, Saint Lucia National Archives, Folk Research Centre (FRC), Cultural Development Foundation and Suzy Designs representing the exhibitors. Coming out of the review were the following major suggestions and recommendations.
The review meeting was held virtually and on the physical location of the Holy Trinity Anglican Church noted the collaborative interest to pursue the following:
- Promotion of the development concept of a National Museum; if not a temporary Museum in view of the delay in keeping the Leiden University exhibits in Saint Lucia for a longer period of time. The SAHS is expected to announce this matter following an assessment of logistics and the cost feasibility.
- The keen advocacy for the review and adoption of relevant legislation, policy and programming towards Institutional capacity building, in view of governments recent public policy pronouncements on heritage and culture. It was announced that work has started by the Saint Lucia National Trust, as well as the SAHS. The organisations should accelerate ongoing efforts at the formation of a proposed “Coalition of Heritage Organizations of Saint Lucia”.
- Heritage work is expected to be pursued during October Heritage Month (Mwa Éwitaj Kwéyòl ) for collaboration with FRC and other agencies including the Cultural Development Foundation.
Caribbean Ties Exhibition benefitted from visits from hundreds of patrons/visitors, comprising of students summer school camps and several patrons including a few dignitaries including the past presidents of the SAHS, prime minister, Phillip J Pierre, minister for commerce, Emma Hippolyte, past and present Mayors of the City of Castries and persons generally interested in the historical affairs.
Moreover, some alumni benefitted from their early tertiary education at the Anglican School Annex – the venue of Sir Arthur Lewis early education.
