COOPERATION IN ACTION UNITING EFFORTs IN THE CARIBBEAN TO FACE CLIMATE CHANGE
WHAT’S INSIDE: ADAPTING TO OUR CHANGING ENVIRONMENT SANDY SHORELINES TO DATE PEOPLE OF THE GREATER CARIBBEAN REGIONAL ARTISAN NETWORK
The Caribbean Sea
Playa María Chiquita, Panama
The Communications Unit Association of Caribbean States 5-7 Sweet Briar Road St. Clair Port of Spain Trinidad and Tobago +1 868 622 9575 communications@acs-aec.org www.acs-aec.org
layout and design The Royalty Club www.royalty-club.com @theroyaltyclub
Cover image Alexander Girvan
contents 04
ABOUT THE ACS
05
SECRETARY GENERAL’S WELCOME
07
BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN DISASTER RISK REDUCTION & CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION
10
SANDY SHORELINES INFOGRAPHIC
11
SANDY SHORELINES Q & A + PHOTO GALLERY
14
REGIONAL NETWORK OF ARTISANS OF THE GREATER CARIBBEAN EXPLAINER
15
TEASEA “REVE” BENNETT
16
LILIANA DUÁN
17
CATHERINE ROCHEFORD
18
SILVIA TORREZ ARAICA
19
TARIBBA DO NASCIMENTO
20
FÁTIMA POLANCO DE ROBLES
21
NANCY GONZÁLEZ
Cooperation in action 3
ABOUT THE ACS The Association of Caribbean States is an organisation for consultation, cooperation and concerted action in the Greater Caribbean. The Organisation’s work is focused on: Disaster Risk Reduction; Sustainable Tourism; Trade, Transport & External Economic Relations; and the protection of the Caribbean Sea. MEMBER STATES Antigua & Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Saint Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent & the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela.
ASSOCIATE MEMBERS Aruba, British Virgin Islands, Curaçao, France (in respect of French Guiana and Saint Barthélemy), Guadeloupe, Kingdom of the Netherlands (in respect of Bonaire, Saba and Sint Eustatius), Martinique, Saint Martin, Sint Maarten, Turks and Caicos Islands (inactive).
FOUNDING OBSERVERS Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Latin American Economic System (SELA), Central American Integration System (SICA), Permanent Secretariat for the General Agreement on Central American Economic Integration (SEICA), United Nations Economic Commission of Latin America and the Caribbean (UNECLAC), Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO).
OBSERVER COUNTRIES Argentina, Belarus, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Ecuador, Egypt, Finland, India, Italy, Japan Kazakhstan, Kingdom of the Netherlands, Korea, Morocco, Peru, Palestine, Russian Federation, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Uruguay, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
OBSERVER ORGANISATIONS Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America-Peoples’ Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP), Central American Economic Integration Bank (CABEI), European Union, International Organization for Migration.
25 MEMBERS 10 ASSOCIATE MEMBERS 250+ MILLION PEOPLE 1 ACS www.acs-aec.org #ACS #AEC
4 Association of Caribbean States
Representative of the Chair of the Ministerial Council, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nicaragua, Valdrack Jaentschke receiving the chairmanship of the Association at the XXIII Meeting of the Ministerial Council, Margarita, Venezuela.
Secretary General’s Welcome
Dr. June Soomer
T
he annual Cooperation Conference has quickly become a calendar event for the Association of Caribbean States, and it is my immense pleasure to welcome you to the third annual edition of the only event that brings all ACS Members, collaborators and potential cooperators to the table.
Today, twenty-five years after our establishment, the foundation of our existence remains the same: consultation, cooperation, coordination and concerted action. Our achievements and successes have been possible because of the strength of our Membership: large and small nations, and territories, our observers and social actors. They see the potential, and together, they ensure the sustainable development of the Greater Caribbean. This is the ACS way. Over the years, the reach of the Association, and its achievements have been unique. We have promoted the recognition of the Caribbean Sea as a Special Area in the context of sustainable development at the United Nations. The most recent iteration of the resolution was adopted by the 73rd General Assembly of the United Nations.
Our flagship Sandy Shorelines project is a unique model of cooperation for the world to see. The ACS serves as the table that brings the East and West together to dialogue, to think, to imagine, to research and to implement a project that marries Korean expertise, with Cuban resourcefulness and science, to benefit our miles and miles of Caribbean blue waters and sandy shorelines - all of this for the benefit of our people. We continue to focus on touching the lives of our 250+ million members with projects that affect real people and real communities. Look no further than the Regional Network of Artisans of the Greater Caribbean, a project which has shown the value of international cooperation to niche communities, towns, families, and people. For this project and many others, we have coordinated the invaluable contributions of
Cooperation in action 5
Representative of the Chair of the Ministerial Council, Michael Campbell with Secretary General Dr. June Soomer, with Ambassadors and Permanent Representatives to the ACS, at the XXI Intersessional Meeting of the Ministerial Council, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, 2018.
Representative of the Chair of the Ministerial Council, Michael Campbell with Secretary General Dr. June Soomer, with Ambassadors and Permanent Representatives to the ACS from Associate Members, at the XXI Intersessional Meeting of the Ministerial Council, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, 2018.
international donors and agencies; and the priceless contributions of our Members, each with their unique experiences and accumulated skills.
old friendships and build new alliances. This is a key moment for cooperation.
Cooperation is one of the pillars of the work of the ACS, and this magazine is a reflection of how we have been working together. It is a map forward for future collaboration on projects that will impact over 250 million people of the Greater Caribbean in some way.
This magazine is a snapshot of how the ACS brings thirty-five nations together for their continued sustainable development. It is a timestamp of where we have come from over the course of 25 years. It is a roadmap of how the Association will tackle adaptation into the future.
We are building on the model created at the Inaugural Cooperation Conference - creating the space for multilateral and bilateral interaction among Member States, Associates, Observers and other partners. This is a key opportunity to strengthen
In an ever-changing world, and with the need to adapt to the effects of climate change, the importance of this space for cooperation, consultation and concerted action cannot be overlooked. We continue
6 Association of Caribbean States
to build on the work done by our founders to think of new ways to tackle the need for sustainable development. I urge you to take this opportunity to network, build strategic relationships with us, to stoke your interest in Greater Caribbean development. Cooperation is the cornerstone for sustainable development of the Greater Caribbean.
COOPERATION IN ACTION bridging the gap between Disaster Risk Reduction & Climate Change Adaptation in the Greater Caribbean AndrĂŠ W. Blackburn & Arturo LĂłpez-Portillo Contreras
I
n recent times, the Greater Caribbean has experienced a proliferation of volatile and extreme natural hazards, which have impacted some 30% of the 240 million inhabitants in the region.1 According to the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC), acute changes in weather patterns are not only more frequent and intense, but they have also become multifarious and longlasting.2 For instance, in 2017, the Greater Caribbean was hit by two category 5 hurricanes, Irma and Maria, which made landfall mere days apart, on September 6th and 19th, respectively. In October 2017, hurricane Nate wrought havoc on Costa Rica, Honduras, Guatemala and Panama, killing 30 people and affecting at least 600,000 people.3 There were two earthquakes in Mexico on September 7th and 19th 2017, registering magnitudes of 8.2 and 7.1, respectively. Colombia experienced severe landslides in April 2017, killing over 200 people. Additionally, Central America
experienced extreme droughts, which affected some 2.5 million people. The impact of these disasters can be crippling, especially on Small Island Developing States (SIDS), due to their heightened vulnerability to such hazards, and the costly concomitant social, economic and ecological ramifications. Hurricanes Irma and Maria, for example, cost Dominica, Barbuda, and the British Virgin Islands over USD 5 billion, setting those countries back many years in development.4 In Cuba,
over 2 million people were severely affected by Hurricane Irma, which resulted in USD 55.8 million in recovery costs.5 Droughts in Central America in 2018 cost some USD 37 million in damage in El Salvador, and USD 44.3 million in Guatemala.6 Furthermore, the 2017 deadly tremors in Mexico racked up a USD 2 billion recovery bill.7 The magnitude and nature of these hazards, therefore, suggest that natural threats affecting the region are not exclusively attributed to long-term environmental issues due to human activity, such as urbanisation,
1 www.acs-aec.org/index.php?q=es/disaster-risk-reduction/la-aec-y-la-reduccion-del-riesgo-de-desastres-en-el-gran-caribe 2 IPCC, 2007: Climate Change 2007: Synthesis Report. Contribution of Working Groups I, II and III to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [Core Writing Team, Pachauri, R.K and Reisinger, A. (eds.)]. IPCC, Geneva, Switzerland. 3 https://www.unocha.org/hurricane-season-201 4 Regional Overview: Impact of Hurricane Irma and Maria. Conference Supporting Document by ACAPS, OCHA and UNDP. 5 See Plan of Action: United Nations Systems in Cuba 2017. 6 Information Bulletin Central America Drought: International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. August 17th 2018. 7 See the following links for more details: https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/international/2017/09/29/465995.html, https://www.telemundodenver.com/noticias/mexico/2500-millones-costo-de-reconstruir-danos-de-terremotos-estima-presidente-pena-nieto-451490543.html
Cooperation in action 7
deforestation, and desertification, but they are also attributed to climate change issues. As a result, decisive action geared towards building resilience against natural hazards in the region must adopt an integrated approach that combines Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) strategies with Climate Change Adaptation (CCA). DRR, according to the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR), refers to “the concept and practice of reducing disaster risks through systematic efforts to analyse and reduce the causal factors of disasters.” DRR policies and tactics examine the social, political, environmental and economic circumstances under which hazards occur. CCA, on the other hand, has to do with adjusting “in natural or human systems in response to actual or expected climate stimuli or their effects…and exploiting any potential benefits.”8 In this way, bridging the gap between DRR and CCA means that existing risks (DRR) and new risks and uncertainties (CCA), as well as ex-ante and ex-post policies must be considered to address natural hazards. These strategies must also combine grassroots policies with national and international instruments, such as the Sendai Framework for DRR 2015-2030, that guide practical action in addressing disaster risks and climate change adaptation.
In this context, the Association of Caribbean States (ACS) has been functioning in line with this balanced approach. This is evident by its recent decision to merge Disaster Risk Reduction with Environment and the Caribbean Sea, creating one single Directorate to jointly tackle climate change and disaster risk issues. Furthermore, the flagship projects spearheaded by the Directorate have been consistent with this cohesive approach. For example, the project on Strengthening Hydro-meteorological Operations and Services in the Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SHOCS), in collaboration with the Finnish Meteorological Institute, and sponsored by the Finnish Government to the tune of USD 1,904,172.30, addressed both climate adaptation and disaster risks reduction insofar as it provided training at National Meteorological and Hydrological Institutions (NMHSs) and Disaster Management Agencies (DMAs) in ACS Member States with the aim of increasing preparedness against hazards, while it also took into account matters relating to the geophysical, economic and cultural idiosyncrasies. All 25 ACS Member States were able to benefit from this project.
Data Infrastructures in ACS Member States and Territories (UN-GGIM), both embody an interconnected approach in combating climate change and disaster risks. PITCA, which was sponsored by the Mexican Agency for International Development Cooperation (AMEXCID), and executed in collaboration with the National Centre for Disaster Prevention (CENAPRED), established a platform to provide territorial geospatial information from national and regional resources, facilitating the exchange of geospatial data in the region, and reducing vulnerability in the region through uploading and analysing information about risks in the 18 Participating States of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA).9 As a result, decision-making on development and planning policies in those countries will strengthen, through the use of the platform. In the same way, UN-GGIM, which was carried out in collaboration with the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI), and also funded by AMEXCID, promoted the development of spatial data infrastructure in order to strengthen the generation, usage and sharing of geospatial information for DRR in 19 ACS Member States and territories.10
Similarly, the projects: Caribbean Territorial Information Platform for Disaster Prevention (PITCA), and on the Strengthening of Spatial
Currently, in efforts to harmonize DRR and CCA, the ACS, in collaboration with the Korea International Cooperation Agency
8 As defined in IPCC, 2007: Climate Change 2007: Synthesis Report. Contribution of Working Groups I, II and III to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [Core Writing Team, Pachauri, R.K and Reisinger, A. (eds.)]. IPCC, Geneva, Switzerland. 9 CDEMA presently comprises eighteen (18) Participating States: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Commonwealth of the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, Republic of Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Suriname, Republic of Trinidad & Tobago, Turks & Caicos Islands and the Virgin Islands. See https://www.cdema.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=89&Itemid#which-states-are-members-of-cdema 10 These states include Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Cuba, Dominica, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Haïti, Jamaica, Martinique, The Dominican Republic, Saint Lucia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Maarten, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago. Of these, 16 are islands and 3 continental. On the other hand, are 15 independent states, while three are dependent territories of other countries: Guadeloupe and Martinique belong to France, while Sint Maarten is administered by the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
8 Association of Caribbean States
(KOICA), and with technical assistance from Cuba, is carrying out the Sandy Shorelines project, which assesses the impact of climate change on shorelines of the Greater Caribbean. The project, which was granted USD 4 million by KOICA, sets out to improve the resilience of coastal communities to climate change and sea level rise through the establishment of a regional erosion monitoring network, and the sharing of beach rehabilitation, observation and preservation best practices in 10 ACS Member States. While these projects are a step in the right direction, much more can be done to synchronise disaster planning and response in the Greater Caribbean. Natural hazards have become more frequent and intense, and at times, impact multiple countries at the same time. Within one year, countries may experience similar magnitudes of hazards, as was the case with hurricanes Irma and Maria in September 2017. Hurricanes can now upgrade in destructive magnitude from category 1 to 4 in less than a day. Countries can be hit twice in a period of weeks by high-magnitude hurricanes. Additionally, there are also hazard chains, that is, risks that provoke a casual sequence. For instance, windfall may lead to rainfall, rainfall
to floods, floods to mudslides and so on. Finally, there is also the risk of a country that has been already impacted in one hurricane season to be hit during the next one while being highly vulnerable during the reconstruction period.
in the region and regional DDR coordinating agencies must also come together to harmonise their efforts to prepare and respond to hazards. In a few words: Disaster Risk Reduction must be adapted to Climate Change.
Therefore, synchronising DRR and CCA activities also means adopting smarter planning and response strategies. In this regard, during the conference on “Building Resilient Societies through the links between research, disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation in the Caribbean” held in Havana, Cuba, in May 2018, organised by the Cuban Ministry for Science, Technology and the Environment and UNESCO, the Director for Disaster Risk Reduction, Environment and the Caribbean Sea of the ACS explained that planning for DRR must include both shortterm and long-term policies and strategies. Also, disaster managers and climate change researchers must work in unison to design plans and policies that respond to the possible magnitude, frequency and impact of hazards. Disaster managers should design DRR and specific emergency response plans considering specific disaster scenarios that include possible climate change effects as those mentioned above. Countries
To achieve this goal, the ACS has been working closely with international, regional and national DRR organisations such as the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR), the Coordination Centre for Natural Disaster Prevention in Central America (CEPEDRENAC), the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), the Regional Logistical Centre for Humanitarian Assistance (CLRAH) of Panama, the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility (CCRIF), among others, to deepen collaborative work towards a better DRR to face climate change effects more effectively in the wider Caribbean region. Arturo López-Portillo Contreras is the Director in the Directorate for Disaster Risk Reduction, Environment and the Caribbean Sea, at the Association of Caribbean States (ACS). André W. Blackburn currently occupies the position of research assistant within the Directorate.
Cooperation in action 9
ACHIEVEMENTS TO DATE
EXPERT NETWORKING
TRAINING
200+ 4 TECHNICIANS TRAINED
12
HOURS OF BEACH MONITORING TRAINING IN FIELD BEACH PROFILING ACTIVITIES
Visited KIOST East Sea Institute
SAFEGUARDING
ISLANDS
+
250+MILLION PEOPLE
Collaborated with International Maritime University of Panama (UMIP)
t
MONITORING
9
Pilot monitoring exercise with Instituto de Ciencias del Mar – Cuba ( ICIMAR) & working directly with Panamanian Government to plan beach protection.
7,000
Regional scientists participated in two top international coastal engineering conferences.
+
12,000 SPECIES
WWW.ACS-AEC.ORG #SANDYSHORELINES
=
National coastal monitoring plans initiated +/ enhanced beach erosion monitoring plans in nine countries of the Greater Caribbean.
ONE CARIBBEAN SEA
PRESERVING WHAT CONNECTS US
Sandy Shorelines Q&A What have been the project’s major achievements up to this point?
In 2018, the project focused on networking and training activities. These activities sought to increase regional capacity in the area of coastal studies, by exposing regional experts to: the latest research, trends and global experts on coastal erosion.
WHERE DOES SAND COME FROM? Dr. José Luis Juanes shows regional scientists how to determine origin & grain size, which helps predict how beach erosion changes with sea-level rise.
Training Specifically, the project facilitated the attendance of experts to two global conferences on coastal engineering and erosion, and organised an extended training workshop in Panama City. In Busan, South Korea, the project provided eight Greater Caribbean coastal scientists with the opportunity to visit Korea’s leading ocean research institute – KIOST (Korean Institute of Ocean Science & Technology) East Sea Institute, where they were exposed to cuttingedge technology and monitoring methods.
In Baltimore, USA four regional experts participated in the International Conference in Coastal Engineering (ICCE). Finally, the Sandy Shorelines project hosted a three-part training workshop in Panama City, Panama. These workshops trained over 35 regional experts in specialised methods for the monitoring of coastal changes and analysis of how sand composition impacts beaches. These activities laid the foundation for the extensive beach monitoring and rehabilitation exercises which will commence in 2019.
National Plans The project has assisted ten territories initiate or enhance their national beach erosion monitoring plans. National Coastal Monitoring Plans are national guidelines which outline each country’s coastal erosion monitoring strategy. These documents include comprehensive technical details such as number of stations, proposed monitoring techniques/technologies and administrative details on budgeting, institutional frameworks, responsible agencies, stakeholders, monitoring, etc.
Cooperation in action 11
Upcoming Coastal erosion monitoring equipment procurement is set to commence in 2019. This gives participating Member States all the tools they need to comprehensively monitor how their coastlines are changing. Q: How many people were trained? A: 25 technicians from 10 countries across the Greater Caribbean Q: How many contact hours of training did they receive? A: Approximately 100 hours Q: What were they trained in? A: Coastal Processes - how erosion affects our coastlines, what causes these effects and how we can work to prevent them. Sedimentology – where does sand come from? Is it biogenic (from corals) or geological (from rocks) and how do the origins of sand affect the severity of erosion.
Q: What are the expected benefits for the region, having had these people trained? A: Training significantly enhances national and regional capacity to address the ongoing threats of coastal erosion and sea level rise. It gives countries the tools to implement more robust costal management strategies in the short, medium and long term. The Caribbean is better prepared to preserve the beaches and coastal infrastructure critical to current and future sustainable economic development. Q: At the workshop, there were presentations by scientists from participating Member States, how significant is that? A: Some of the world’s best and brightest are here in the region; by facilitating the sharing of cutting edge regional experience, the ACS is showing that it can be a regional leader in south-south and Triangular cooperation. This is clear evidence of ACS facilitating both South-
South cooperation and triangular cooperation.1 The ACS can facilitate regional cooperation (Sharing the best of the region, amongst the region) while still having a global outlook. This promotes South-South cooperation among the Association’s Member States. Countries such as Barbados and Colombia, which possess expertise in coastal management and monitoring, enhance (i) the quality of training and assistance given to the beneficiary countries and (ii) the relationship between these countries.
1 The United Nations’ working definition for triangular cooperation (TrC) is “Southern-driven partnerships between two or more developing countries, supported by a developed country(ies) or multilateral organisation(s), to implement development cooperation programmes and projects”.
12 Association of Caribbean States
Cooperation in action 13
Regional Network of Artisans of the Greater Caribbean Explainer
E
stablished in 2015, the Regional Network of Artisans in Tourism of the Greater Caribbean is a space where artisans can engage their own. They exchange techniques, raw materials, business tips, trade each other’s finished products, and interact artist to artist. The ACS supports community-based tourism as it promotes the inclusion of vulnerable groups and develops opportunities based on economic alternatives for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises. We place special attention on the handicraft sector through the Regional Network of Artisans in Tourism of the Greater Caribbean. The alliance between the ACS and the representatives of the Network contributes to the accomplishment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), focusing on povertyalleviation, decent work and gender equality. These are some of the critical steps taken by the ACS to accomplish its Sustainable Tourism mandates. This project is another
14 Association of Caribbean States
practical example of the brand of multi-level cooperation that the ACS engages and facilitates. A new phase of the project began in 2018, funded in part by the Republic of Turkey, in its capacity as an ACS Observer. The artisans and country focal points of the Network traveled to Panama for a multi-faceted workshop. The ACS continues to fulfill its role, serving as a bridge between the mainland and island states of the Greater Caribbean, confident that the region will be positioned among the leaders of cooperation and integration, building better
economies and lives for our people. This series of features showcases the colourful work and stories of seven women artisans for the enjoyment of the 250+ million people of the Greater Caribbean.
Jamaica
ladies! Welcome in… I’m sorry, I’m at work.”
easea Bennett has been working as a handcraft artisan since 2006. Based in Jamaica, she’s one of the live wires of the Regional Network of Artisans in Tourism in the Greater Caribbean.
She returns to talking about some of the connections she has made in the network. She has already forged a strong connection with Fátima Polanco de Robles, a versatile jewellery designer in the Dominican Republic.
Out of her Kingston boutique, Reve Jewellery & Accessories, she and her brother Duane make fine jewellery from gold, leather, precious stones, you name it. She does it all while managing staff, warmly welcoming visitors, and being a gregarious member of the Network.
“I came off the phone today with Fátima, because I had a customer come to the store with a specific request that we were not able to do. They wanted Dominican amber and they wanted a very intricate beaded necklace. I told her that we could not make it, but if she was willing to give me the chance, I know the perfect designer in the Dominican Republic to do it. She’s like ‘yeah, sure’, and
Teasea “Reve” Bennett
T
“Production for the high season is coming along… Bye! Take care,
we exchanged information. And let me tell you, Fátima did an excellent job. Everyone was over the moon and we were able to make a small commission. Fátima got income from that and she could use her authentic DR amber to create this beautiful design that the customer will be getting very soon. So it’s all good.” Follow Teasea’s boutique Instagram @revejewellery
on
Cooperation in action 15
Liliana Durán Colombia
F
or many years, Liliana Durán has worked as an architect, obtaining a master’s degree in interior design, contemporary furniture and furniture history with an emphasis on restoration, training that she complemented with postgraduate studies in Art-therapy, all highlighting her inclination for art and design. She is philosophical when reflecting on the work of the Regional Network of Artisans in Tourism of the Greater Caribbean and says, “opportunities to share with artisans from other countries have been wonderful; as well as experiencing their love for their work and culture”. Based in Cartagena, Colombia, she has created a very important link
16 Association of Caribbean States
between artisans and commercial opportunities. That comes to life in her creative laboratory, Lili Durán Design Studio, where she provides a vending space for the products of other Colombian artisans. This allows her to promote a complete production circle, where she contributes to the creative, conceptualisation process and assists the craftspeople with their production. She explains that this interaction provides her with the opportunity to have an impact on the artistic and cultural process in her country. “I always dreamed of this creative laboratory of innovation, where we could experiment with materials, and that led me to work in preserving our historical heritage” through crafts “That is what creates an added value for the tourist; the items have history and cultural value. “
Liliana expresses that the Network generates even more opportunities to connect with other artisans, “Personally it has been very enriching and I have been empowered. I feel like a completely different person, like I am certain about what I am doing. I enjoy seeing the other artisans and getting to know them on a spiritual level; and getting to know about organisations that work to help the ethnic cultures of our regions.” Follow Liliana’s boutique Instagram @lilidurandesign
on
Catherine Rocheford Barbados
F
or over twenty years, happy tourists visiting Barbados have been heading home from their vacation, leaving with a piece
of the Caribbean, through Catherine Rocheford’s
art
and
creativity
in
handcrafted jewellery, leather trinkets
members of the Network, Catherine sees
programme
the similarities and endless opportunities
Barbados, and then repeat that same
for growth.
training programme with some of the
with
the
artisans
in
other islands in Caricom. We would have “You see very many of the same types
been working back and forth developing
of shapes, the use of materials and
a plan for the training, where I would have
techniques, are very similar across the
brought Liliana up.” An ambitious, and
region. I notice that we all share the same
potentially fruitful collaboration mold,
challenges, where a lot of our clientele
the idea is yet to materialise because of
tends to be tourists, but at some point
financing difficulties.
and textiles.
in time, we can move forward from just being thought of as artisans to being full-
While
Catherine has been a member of the
fledged business people doing exports.
opportunity for such experience-sharing,
So there is scope for improvement in all
Catherine and her fellow artists dream
of us, and we all share common goals and
even bigger: a trade show of Greater
common vision for each of our countries.”
Caribbean artists.
Catherine, whose jewellery is sold in
“I would love to have a mutual trade show,
various boutiques throughout Barbados,
where we can have each representative
and we are joined by our diversity.”
is in the process of revamping her work
from the countries gather a group of
with textiles. The Network presents a
five or six artisans to travel the region,
Even
golden opportunity for exchange of
showing the skills of the network.”
Regional Network of Artisans from its inception. Since then, she has seen the great potential in the grouping of Greater Caribbean artists. “Working with the Network is very enriching because it shows that we have the same challenges
though
there
are
sometimes
challenges crossing the language barrier between English and Spanish-speaking
the
Network
provides
the
experiences and best-practice. Follow Catherine’s boutique on Instagram “Liliana and I wanted to do a training
@catherine_rocheford_designs
Cooperation in action 17
Silvia Torrez Araica Nicaragua
S
ilvia Torres Araica is an outstanding artisan with a history of leading craft associations that exceeds two decades and she is currently the president of the Grupo Raíces, which comprises of producers of Nicaraguan crafts. She is also one of the representatives of the Regional Network of Artisans in Tourism of the Greater Caribbean. One of Silvia’s priorities is to share, based on her experience as a member of the Network, the advances and challenges faced by the artisanal sector at a regional level and, in particular, in her country. She therefore adds that “An advantage that the artisanal sector of Nicaragua has is that
18 Association of Caribbean States
approximately 70%-75% of the raw material is local, therefore, the importation of most of the work material is not required.” As it relates to textiles and pigments, she explains that alliances have been made with artisans from the Region to solve supply needs. “For example, some types of leather are imported from neighbouring countries, Honduras and El Salvador ... in order to increase the diversity in terms of raw material.” The Regional Network of Artisans in Tourism of the Greater Caribbean was established in 2015 and Silvia has been an active member since then. In her opinion “The Network is an alternative to strengthen capacity building, knowledge and to implement joint actions with other countries, as well as to exchange
products and market strategies.” Silvia assures that the women of the Network have creative solutions to solve linguistic limitations and boost their interaction as representatives. Additionally, she highlights the developments achieved by the Network such as cooperation with other actors in the tourism sector, such as the Inter-American and Caribbean Network of Small Hotels (INCAPH). Regarding her vision, she comments: “In the future we want to do something together to demonstrate how much we can achieve as an organization in terms of products and exchanges; as well as in our role as makers of culture, popular art and the millenary history of each of our countries.”
Taribba do Nascimento Saint Lucia
I
n between managing her busy production line and getting things done for the upcoming high-sales season, Taribba do Nascimento, a luxury leather handbag maker in St. Lucia finds time to talk about her involvement in the Regional Network of Artisans of the Greater Caribbean. She has been working in the handcraft industry since 2009, establishing herself as a handbag maker, with unique style, having learnt her craft in Ethiopia, and refined it in Italy. Whether African ethnic prints, or styles that are reflective of St. Lucian history and island life, each creation is made carefully by hand – the mark of her Meme Bete brand. Keeping creativity and quality strong in her production sometimes requires some outside input. Taribba has
been building relationships with her regional colleagues in the Network and she has been using her Caribbean connections to great effect.
she now has the connections to reach out to her colleagues in the Greater Caribbean, and she says that is inkeeping with her home-made brand.
“Particularly with the type of work that I do, sharing ideas is important for me because this is not necessarily an indigenous skill from St. Lucia. So every time we have those meetings and I bounce up with Nancy from Guatemala, and other countries that do that type of leather work, they can provide me with different ideas on how to do things, and different styles and different types of materials that I can use to strengthen my bags.”
She has also worked with Lili Duran, her sister artisan from Colombia to source raw material. “Fabrics for sure, in Colombia, it’s a traditional fabric that’s embroidered and that has made some beautiful pieces, rather than getting strange cotton printed stuff from China, beads even. Even printing services, I don’t have to go to the US for, like printing business cards, that sort of things.”
Taribba collaborated with Nancy to create resplendent beaded Amazona Versicolor parrots – the national bird of St. Lucia. They were incorporated into a line of bags coming out of Meme Bete brand. Instead of sourcing some of her raw materials in China,
For the artisan from St. Lucia, the Network of Artisans has provided unique possibilities. “Great contacts, opportunities, ideas, yeah man. All of that!” Follow Taribba’s boutique Instagram @memebete.bags
on
Cooperation in action 19
and other trinkets. A trained architect,
is well-established on social networks.
Dominican Republic
Fatima started knitting and working
Her
with porcelain, and then diversified. For
professional, works with the business,
fter
the last two decades, she has created
managing the pages. “The Network has
accessories and precious metal jewelry.
awakened the need for knowledge in the
Fátima Polanco de Robles
A
25
years
working
in
the handicraft industry her country, Dominican Republic, knowing its inner workings,
Fátima Polanco de Robles is learning even more about the art of her countrymen, motivated by her work in the Regional Network of Artisans in Tourism of the Greater Caribbean. “This experience has encouraged me to connect even more with artisans in my own country. I belong to CENADARTE (National Crafts Center). There is a wide variety of handicraft in this country and there are craftspeople who work with wood, others who work with paints, with
daughter,
a
communications
field of social media”. Fatima is not selfish with her abilities; she provides unique opportunities for young
The
women to develop their skills.
opportunities for the sale of her work in
“In my shop we also give classes to girls
other countries of the Greater Caribbean.
and young women. The ladies learn to
She has collaborated with Teasea Bennett
make the accessories, so that they can
from Jamaica to produce an amber chain,
make a living with that.”
which a client specifically requested.
Network
has
also
provided
Fátima sums up the experience with “The training sessions are free, they are
a warm sense of sorority, “I have met
individualised. For example right now, I
wonderful craftswomen, artisans like me
have a client who wants me to show her
from the different countries that make
how to do a particular technique that she
up the Regional Network of the Greater
saw on one of my designs. That is exactly
Caribbean.”
what she wants to do. I do not teach in groups because each person has different
Follow Fátima’s boutique on Instagram
jewelry with precious stones. “
interests and wants to do different things.”
@3estilos
Her work in jewelry is also very varied. She
You only have to look at Fátima’s business
shells and horns, and others who make
creates pieces with precious metals, beads
20 Association of Caribbean States
page on Instagram to see that her business
Nancy González Guatemala
“
I began to learn the art of weaving since I was eight years old. I have worked as an artisan and have sold my art for 36 years.”
Like the other artisans in The Network, Nancy
González,
a
Guatemalan,
has a long history of creativity, entrepreneurship,
association
and
sharing her knowledge. Nancy’s warm personality is welcoming. She proudly displays her creations, indigenous to her part of Guatemala. She shows off a very intricate, colorful fabric and explains: “This fabric is hand-made, it is a Backstrap Loom (a traditional Mayan weaving technique), and it is reversible.” “My specialty is the backstrap loom. It can take six to ten months to craft this fabric. The shawls take a year, working eight to ten hours a day. The technique is detailed and time-consuming, it is made by hand. It is a skill that was handed down to me from my grandmother.” Nancy and other artisans of Kaqchikel origin maintain the traditional crafts of the indigenous group of the western regions of Guatemala. However, they understand very clearly, the need to please customers. “Now with the changing world, we try to make our craft by coupling it with the modern, the current. We use traditional cloth from Guatemala, and we pair it with leather. We are trying to innovate the craft to be able to market it.” For her, the advantages of The Network are clear: “One of the benefits is that, through the other partners of the other The Network, we have been able to market what we do. Sometimes, the other artisans in the Network, they
tell me, ‘Look, Nancy, can you buy
Spanish and that way I understand and
me buttons or other things, and we
we can communicate.”
exchange materials. In The Network we receive training and the benefits are
She is not selfish, any new skills that
great. “
she acquires through the Network is fed back into the community of artisans.
The women of The Network chat on
“I take what I learn in the Network, in
Whatsapp and Nancy says that they use
the workshops and I go assemble a
technology to facilitate communication.
small groups of Guatemalan artisans
“I understand a few words (in English),
from our group and pass them the
and when there is a lot of conversation
information so that they can also grow
that I cannot understand, I download the
and commercialize their handicraft.”
conversation and I go down to Google and I put the translator from English to
Cooperation in action 21
notes
notes
notes
notes
notes
www.acs-aec.org #ACS #AEC