The Honorable Shantal Munro-Knight, Ph.D., Senator and Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister, in charge of Resources for Sustainable Development and Culture of Barbados, accompanied by her team, held a fruitful and fluid exchange today with Yanet Stable Cárdenas and Olga Dalmau González, Ambassador and Consul of the Republic of Cuba in Barbados, respectively. The meeting was also attended by Foreign Ministry officials Sandra Gittens, Head of the CARICOM-Caribbean Affairs Division and Disa Lewis, Foreign Service Officer II of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Barbados.
They discussed various initiatives that can be jointly carried out in the areas of cultural exchange, artistic education in the different manifestations and specialized technical assistance. Interests in knowledge and practices for the conservation and restoration of cultural heritage are points of coincidence for both nations.
On the Cuban side, an invitation was extended for a Barbadian delegation to attend the Fire Festival to be held in July in Santiago de Cuba, and the UNESCO Transcultura Program was announced, which offers 24 scholarships to participate in on-site courses at the International Film and Television School of Cuba. Among them, the courses: Introductory Workshop for Sound Mixing and Soundtrack Design, which will be held from June 17 to 28, 2024, both of high level and professional specialization, an opportunity for young people between the ages of 18 and 35, with nationality and permanent residence in one of the countries of the Caribbean region.
Undoubtedly, the cultural diversity contained in the cultural heritage of our nations, while identifying and singling us out in the different ways of expression and manifestation, brings us closer and shows us the similarities of the elements of cultural identity that gave rise to its origins. It is through cultural exchange that we can best achieve regional integration among Caribbean peoples.