From our point of view, socialisation among Greater Caribbean countries, within the ACP, was a crucial factor for the emergence of the Association of Caribbean States, since these countries were compelled to identify sub-regional similarities among themselves, with a view to achieving improved negotiations with their European counterparts, who were long-time advocates for the consolidation of increasingly extensive blocs of countries.

The first African, Caribbean and Pacific Cultural Festival represents a milestone in the history of its member countries, not only due to its novelty but also since it reinforces the idea of cultural diversity as a norm among peoples. However, for the Caribbean in particular, it offers our peoples the opportunity to establish direct contact with two of their major cultural roots: Africa and the Pacific countries. This importance stems from the fact that among these peoples, for understandable historic reasons, there is still far more direct contact with European culture than with African culture and that of Pacific countries.

The festival covers broad aspects of cultural manifestation such as: music, contemporary dance, traditional dances, visual arts, concerts, ACP cinema, gastronomy, fashion, cultural markets and meetings among professionals. Such thematic diversity allows significant rapprochement among the peoples represented, as well as mutual understanding between culture professionals and leaders, which will undoubtedly result in the strengthening of the national and regional identities of all involved.

This festival serves as a tool to practise awareness and application of cultural diversity and plurality, which are so crucial in this era of global liberalisation, since, according to UNESCO “no culture is an island”.

The ACP countries have just created a remarkable instrument to work for the benefit of rapprochement among peoples, since, unlike other areas that need to be negotiated, the cultural issue is a fait accompli that exists above our level of awareness of it. Therefore, it is a vector of unity, primarily for our region, which is recognised as a cultural mecca, in its significance as a meeting point for several areas, since it is right here in the Greater Caribbean , where those other continental realities converge.

Dr. Rubén Silié Valdez is the Secretary General of the Secretariat of the Association of Caribbean States. The opinions expressed are not necessarily the official views of the ACS. Comments and reactions can be sent to mail@acs-aec.org

October 17, 2006