The first edition of the Caribbean Heritage Course took place from March 21 – April 1, 2011 in, Willemstad, the inspiring World Heritage capital of Curaçao. It was successfully organized by the University of the Netherlands Antilles, the Curaçao Monument Funds Foundation and the Department of Urban and Regional Development, Planning and Housing of the island in close cooperation with the UNESCO Havana office.
The course consisted of the Modules I and V of UNESCO’s Caribbean Capacity Building Program (CCBP) for heritage professionals. During the first week (March 21 – March 25) Module 1, Application of the World Heritage Convention, was attended by the professors Mrs. Isabel Rigol from Cuba for the cultural heritage aspects and Mr. José Courreau from Costa Rica an international natural heritage consultant .
In the second week (March 28 – April 1) Module 5, The Management of Historic Town Centres, was attended by the professors Mrs. Isabel Rigol and Mr. Gustavo Araoz (U.S.), president of ICOMOS.
Both modules were concluded with an exercise. As the course was at an academic level the University of the Netherlands Antilles granted 2 ECs (European Credits) for every module.
A total of 21 participants from 13 Caribbean countries inscribed (from Curaçao , Aruba, Bonaire , St. Maarten , Suriname, British Virgin Islands, St. Lucia, St. Kitts, Guyana, Haiti and Trinidad & Tobago . Most participants work in the field of heritage preservation, as directors, managers, architects, archaeologists and consultants for cultural and natural heritage sites. Among the participants were 2 students (Law and Geography). Especially the mix of cultural and natural heritage professionals attending the same course was new and worked inspiring for all.
Two excursions were organized. First, a visit to the Savonet plantation (now a protected nature reserve and a museum that together with tree other plantations on western Curaçao are listed on the World Heritage Tentative list to be nominated as a Cultural Landscape). Secondly, an extensive guided tour through the historic districts of Pietermaai, Punda and Otrabanda, including parts of Curacao’s historic town-centre: a World Heritage site since 1997.
At the end of the course THE WILLEMSTAD DECLARATION on Caribbean Heritage was adopted, that stated that: Regional courses such as this one create and reinforce regional professional networks for mutual assistance that are very much needed; All modules in the CCBP should be offered regularly to a broader public in partnership with universities in the region; UNESCO should continue to source the financial and technical support for the permanent establishment of this initiative, which given the limited resources in the region, would otherwise be impossible to sustain; It is of paramount importance that ICOMOS and IUCN work with UNESCO and institutions in and outside the region to intensify technical support and heritage education throughout the Caribbean; Furthermore, that the Governments of the region need to give greater attention to the rich heritage of our region by reinforcing relevant legislation and policies at the national levels, enhancing regional cooperation, and ratifying the international Conventions that foster international cooperation in the protection of the natural and cultural heritage; and that Urgent attention needs to be given in the entire region to the integrated conservation and interrelationship of natural and cultural heritage, and in the case of the latter, to all its components, to include in particular the archaeological and the intangible.
At a festivity on the last day, the participants received a certificate for both modules, granted by the Prime Minister of Curaçao, Mr. Gerrit Schotte and Mr. Gustavo Araoz, president of ICOMOS.
Loekie Morales has attended the course on behalf of Sint Maarten.