Plans are in progress for the erection of a slave monument in St. Kitts

ZIZ News…August 21, 2010 – St. Kitts and Nevis National Commission for UNESCO is preparing to erect a slave monument here in St. Kitts.

They are presently working towards establishing a National Scientific Slave Route Committee in collaboration with the Caribbean Cluster Office in Jamaica.

The mandate of the Slave route project would be to initiate the establishment of the inventory of sites, and places of memory related to the slave trade here in St. Kitts and Nevis.

According to a release, it will also, over see the Development and production of educational and teaching materials on the slave trade, and slavery in St. Kitts and Nevis, that would be used by pupils, teachers in schools as well as the general public. One of the main objectives of this particular component of the project is to facilitate the teaching of our own black history in schools.

The implementation of this project is in preparation to erect a slave monument here in St. Kitts.

Meanwhile in a message from Ms Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO, on the occasion of the International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition; 23 August 2010, she said The Slave Route Project is a highly ambitious initiative with its sights set resolutely on the future, to the extent that it contributes in the long term to enhancing mutual understanding and intercultural dialogue. The challenge of “living together” in our multicultural societies implies recognition of each person’s history and memory, and at the same time the sharing of a common heritage, in order to transcend past tragedies.

The Director General continued, on the occasion of this International Day, I invite all UNESCO’s partners, including national authorities, international and non-governmental organizations and civil society, to provide opportunities for exchange and reflection that place emphasis on the beneficial effects of cultural diversity, recognizing the importance of the continuous transfers and exchanges among cultures and the links established since time immemorial.