Published 25 November 2020
Basseterre
Buckie Got It, St. Kitts and Nevis News Source
MINISTER POWELL COMMENDS SKNYPA FOR LEADERSHIP ON TIMELY ISSUES
Basseterre, St. Kitts, November 24, 2020 (SKNIS): Minister of Education, Youth, Sport and Culture, the Honourable Jonel Powell, has commended the St. Kitts National Youth Parliament Association (SKNYPA) for tackling two issues that are relevant to today’s society.
SKNYPA staged a mocked parliament on Wednesday, November 25, 2020, to adopt a National Cultural Policy as well as to debate and pass the Sexual Harassment Bill 2020.
Minister Powell addressed the gathering at the start of the proceedings and congratulated them for hosting this mock sitting during the annual celebration of Youth Month. He noted that sexual harassment is very controversial and not discussed as often as it should be.
“It is something serious. It is something that we tend to find particularly at workplaces, and I commend SKNYPA on taking the bold initiative to address such an issue head-on,” he stated.
As it relates to the National Cultural Policy, Minister Powell noted that the Ministry of Culture continues to work on the creation of a Federal Cultural Policy to guide cultural development in St. Kitts and Nevis. The federal document will clearly outline the responsibilities and roles of the government, private sector, non-governmental organizations, cultural groups, and others to advance the agenda.
Honourable Powell noted that while Carnival has elements of the local culture embedded in it, more needs to be done to ensure that the historical features are appreciated.
“This year, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have had a perfect reason to reflect on our Carnival in particular and to show greater appreciation for the cultural aspects of it – the folklore, the Masquerades, the Bull, the Actors,” said the minister. But at the same time, culture is a lot more than Carnival. We have our tangible and intangible cultural heritage. Things that we take for granted.”
Tangible cultural heritage refers to buildings, monuments, books, works of art, and the like while intangible cultural heritage includes practices, representations, expressions, and knowledge.
The importance of maintaining and documenting the cultural heritage and passing on traditions and practices to the younger generation was highlighted by Minister Powell as key agenda items for his ministry. The Federal Cultural Policy will help to ensure these are achieved.
