PHILIPSBURG–The Caribbean Branch of the International Council on Archives CARBICA is organising a Disaster Recovery and Heritage Preservation Conference at the Government Administration Building from today, Monday, July 30 until Friday, August 3.
The goal of this conference/workshop, themed “Archives at Risk,” is to bring together experts in the field of disaster-mitigation planning with regional heritage professionals and civil response authorities to ensure that protection of cultural assets is included in national or regional disaster plans.
The workshop sessions will be focussing on disaster recovery and how and what to do in the event archives and documents are affected by natural or man-made disasters.
Hands-on training will be provided on Tuesday and Wednesday. Thursday, the final conference day, is reserved for cultural heritage stewards and civil authorities charged with developing and administering policies and procedures for regional disaster readiness and response.
Before the closing ceremony a memorandum of agreement will be developed between parties taking part in the Caribbean Heritage Protection Network and the selection of a working group. The conference will be opened by CARBICA President Rita Tjien Fooh.
It is International Council on Archives’ (ICA’s) mission to promote the preservation and use of archives around the world. In pursuing this mission, ICA works for the protection and enhancement of the memory of the world and to improve communication while respecting cultural diversity. CARBICA is responsible for carrying out the policy and programmes of ICA in its region, where these are relevant to CARBICA members.
During the conference, regional policymakers, emergency responders and cultural heritage stewards will meet for the first time following the catastrophic 2017 hurricane season to exchange priorities and methods that are to ensure the best possible outcomes for the regional protection, not only of people and property, but also of cultural heritage.
“This will be the first time CARBICA will organise a working conference for all heritage professionals in the region. During the working conference CARBICA will also launch the Caribbean Heritage Protection network in the region to coordinate the support/assistance when needed during a disaster in our region. Last year we observed that it really was a huge challenge to connect and to coordinate the support to our colleagues after the hurricanes. To overcome these challenges we need to join the Caribbean Heritage Protection network,” said Tjien Fooh in July’s edition of CARBICA News.
Today’s opening ceremony, which starts at 9:00am, will include opening remarks by Prime Minister Leona Romeo-Marlin, a keynote address by Deputy Secretary General at the Caribbean Community CARICOM Secretariat Ambassador Manorma P. Soeknandan, and messages from Secretary General of the ICA Anthea Seles and Director of the UNESCO Cluster Office for the Caribbean Katherine Grigsby.
Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/79062-four-day-conference-on-disaster-recovery-heritage-preservation
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