Barbados is a useful case study of how an economically developing country might engage with the Memory of the World programme.
A MoW committee was established in Barbados in 1999. At first the committee had as its membership heads of institutions that would have an interest in/connection to preserving the documentary heritage of the island. After sometime it was recognised that heads of institutions were unable to devote the level of attention the programme needed in order for it to thrive. A new committee was constituted consisting of persons known to have an interest in the field. Where possible, the new members were drawn from professions known to have a natural affinity with the goals of the programme. This composition has worked much better and perhaps may be a model that could be adopted by other small states. Barbados has seen training as a critical activity if it wishes to preserve its documentary heritage. Accordingly, it has organised a number of training and public education activities.
The Barbados Museum and Historical Society
While most of the training has taken place in Barbados, it has always invited persons from neighbouring countries to participate in these activities. The most recent event (2007) took place in St. Lucia where representatives from five countries participated in a workshop to develop national nominations for consideration at the next round of inscriptions to the international register. At the end of the two day workshop three nominations were very advanced and three others were in varying stages of development. Barbados sees sub-regional activity within a single linguistic community as one way of ensuring that the programme is furthered among this group of member states. This approach is cost effective and cost efficient however it is seen as being additional to regional activities and not in lieu of such events.
One of the benefits stemming from having the St. Lucia workshop was that as a number of persons of like mind from across the sub-region were in the same location there was an opportunity to brainstorm and think collaboratively about the programme. This workshop provided an opportunity to networking on a sub-regional level, something that previously had been lacking. Out of the St. Lucia event, a list of Anglophone collections that have the potential to be listed on the international register was created and a number of strategies that the sub-region could use to promote and develop the programme were identified. In order to maximize their benefits, our training events have drawn on the expertise and skills of international experts. The St. Lucia training event was facilitated by Mrs. Roslyn Russell (Australia) and Miss Alissandra Cummins (Barbados). However, in order for countries/institutions to participate in the workshop, prior to journeying to St. Lucia, nominators had to send in draft nominations for review. The comments were returned to the nominators for further work and additional information.
At the workshop, the intricacies of MoW forms were examined and explained in detail and participants did further work on their nominations. There was also an element of peer-to-peer tutoring as those who were further advanced in their nominations shared their experiences among the group. Participants found this particularly useful. Also assisting at this workshop was Dr. Aviston Downes, a historian from the Cave Hill Campus of The University of the West Indies in Barbados. Dr. Downes presence helped to shape the historical framework for the various nominations. Overall, the participants and resource persons found the St. Lucia activity to be very useful and felt that it was a very valuable way to further the work of the programme. This approach to assist small countries develop their nominations for the international register is, from the perspective of the international experts, impressive.
While it does require considerable planning and some good lead time, it is mutually supportive and collaborative. The approach also helped to develop the level of sustained commitment that the nomination process demands. It is anticipated that when the nominations close for the 2009 inscriptions to the international register that the Anglophone Caribbean will have submitted no less than 6 strong nominations for consideration. If any of these nominations are accepted, the representation of the region on the register will be broadened in terms of its geography and also its historical and cultural experiences. Associated with the SLU workshop was a half day seminar in Barbados to which persons interested in knowing more about the programme were invited.
Because of the system used to issue invitations (direct and general public announcements) among the participants was a Professor from Washington D.C. who had never heard about the programme prior to the seminar. She indicated that on her return she would be informing a number of people about the programme as she was of the view that there were a number of collections in the USA, especially from among its Black community, that could meet the criteria of the international register. Because of MoW Barbados reaching out to other countries in the region, we can report, with pride, that St. Lucia has established a Memory of the World Committee. Barbados is also aware that due to its encouragement other countries in the sub-region are planning to establish National Committees.
Barbados had considerable success in its applications to UNESCO's Participation Programme for assistance to fund MoW activities. This has helped to bridge the challenges that exist in most small developing countries where funds for cultural/heritage activities are difficult to get. The funds allocated by the Participation Programme do not always match the original request, but MoW Barbados has been able to make some progress with what it has received. Currently, in train is the use of a Participation Programme allocation to assist us with the preliminary work necessary to nominate some collections to the international register. This preliminary work will be done experts in the areas of African history, culture, gender, historical/plantation geography, and linguistics.
Working to the advantage of MoW in Barbados is the excellent support this committee receives from the local National Commission. It is impossible to overstate how valuable the support of the local National Commission has been to further the work of MoW in Barbados and the region. Undoubtedly, having a Chair of the National Commission who recognizes the value of the programme and the importance of heritage to identity and nation-formation makes the case always easier to make.