News
Supporting the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in Guyana
In alignment with UNESCO's actions on safeguarding intangible cultural heritage and its capacity-building strategy, a specialized training workshop took place in Guyana from 23 - 25 April as a critical step in supporting the country's intention to ratify the .
The three-day session was led by David Brown—Global Facilitator for the 2003 Convention—and was designed in order to build awareness, enhance knowledge, and strengthen capacity for effectively integrating safeguarding measures for intangible cultural heritage into Guyana’s legal and policy frameworks.
The workshop, that was followed by the National Symposium ‘Masquerade Lives On,’ addressed key aspects of the ratification of the 2003 Convention, including the significance of ratification itself, the processes and mechanisms necessary for successful implementation, and the various challenges that may arise.
Yuri Peshkov, Head of the Culture Program at the UNESCO Office for the Caribbean, emphasized that intangible cultural heritage is a source of community resilience, highlighting its role as a driver of cultural diversity, a catalyst for sustainable development, and a powerful asset for economic growth.
Safeguarding intangible cultural heritage — or living heritage — empowers communities to foster inclusive participation, prevent disputes, promote peacebuilding, and advance gender equality. Ratifying the 2003 Convention would represent a crucial step for Guyana in recognizing the importance of protecting its precious heritage at the national level.
In this context, Al Creighton, Senior Lecturer and Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Education at the University of Guyana, advocated for Guyana’s ratification of the 2003 Convention, citing examples of the country’s intangible cultural heritage and cautioning against their rapid disappearance.
The technological age, the new alternative modes of entertainment, and particularly the very powerful social media. These things have had a devastating effect upon the survival of intangible culture.
Guyana is the only country in the English-speaking Caribbean that has yet to ratify the 2003 Convention. The workshop was held by Merundoi Inc, a non-governmental organization in Guyana, in collaboration with the Guyana National Commission for UNESCO and the UNESCO Office for the Caribbean.
