The United States is a proud supporter of the Organisation of the American States (OAS) Cultural Heritage Project, and has allocated approximately $200 000 towards the initiative through the US Permanent Mission to the OAS.

This was disclosed by Mr. Christopher Sandrolini, Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, while addressing the opening of phase one of the experts meeting on the project, “Expanding the socio-economic potential of cultural heritage in the Caribbean”.

“As the world undergoes a period of intense change, our relationship and our responsibility to our natural and cultural resources are increasingly significant,” he expressed.

“One of our chief priorities is the promotion and preservation of cultural heritage. The Department of State Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation established by Congress in 2001 for example, provides direct grant support for heritage preservation in developing countries. Proposals must focus on the preservation of sites, objects and traditional forms of expression. We have provided support for the preservation of historic sites, for the assessment and preservation of museum collections, preservation of archives and manuscripts, music, etc.

Mr. Sandrolini also pointed out that there was an urgent need to show the public and policymakers how historic preservation could sustain tourism and improve local economies, “while also revitalising communities and protecting their unique characters”.

“This is true with the Caribbean as much as in other place else, because the Caribbean faces tremendous development pressures which threaten vulnerable historic communities and their surrounding landscapes. These places are endangered of losing their heritage in the face of demolition and new construction,” he said.