04.20.07
Unesco Conference for SIDS concluded. Seychelles to exploit culture’s economic wealth
A conference organized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) concluded on April 13, 2007.
At the 3-day seminar, delegates and speakers from SIDS said that the Seychelles should further work on deriving the economic benefits from its rich culture. They provided the example of Jamaica, which succeeds to earn millions by “spreading the positive aspects of their Rastafarian culture through reggae musicâ€. According to them, Jamaica also exports T-shirts with positive messages, while, for instance, Haiti makes a fortune selling paintings based on their ancient voodoo culture, etc. The delegates suggested that Seychellois culture needs more recognition.
Raymonde Onezime, the director general for Cultural Institutions and Policy Planning in the Ministry of The Arts, Culture and Sports, agreed with the delegates. She said that culture lacks vast recognition as a key player in economic development.
Onezime said that health, education, sports and environment have always been the priorities for the Seychelles, however, culture must not be neglected and it must be recognized as is an essential aspect of industrial and national economy. She agreed that Seychellois culture is a strong asset that is to be explored and exploited and thanked Unesco for recognizing its potential.
The seminar was attended by delegates 18 countries. Besides Seychelles, it was visited by Australia, the UK, Norway, France, Reunion, Trinidad and Tobago, Papua New Guinea, Jamaica, Fiji, Comoros, New Zealand, Vanuatu, Mauritius, Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica and Tanzania.