UCCI conference: Caribbean Literature, Culture and Identity [Cayman Net News, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands]

Mar. 18--The University College of the Cayman Islands conference on Caribbean Literature, Culture and Identity took place on Thursday, and Friday, 11- 12 March.

On Thursday evening, a series of speeches and addresses began in the Sir Vassel Johnson Hall with the official welcome by Mr Doss Solomon, followed by speeches by Minister of Culture, Hon Mark Scotland; Ms Berna Cummings MBE, Board Chair; Hon Rolston Anglin, Minister of Education; Dr Livingston Smith; Mr Steve McField; Mr Roy Bodden, President of UCCI; and Keynote Speaker Professor Brian Meeks.

Beginning on Friday, Mr Roy Bodden, President of the UCCI gave a speech entitled "Deconstructing Development: Caymanian society in the 21st Century" in the Sir Vassel Johnson Hall.

During the speech, Mr Bodden described many of the problems and issues which have emerged in the Cayman Islands, especially since the rapid economic transformation belonging to the 1960s and 1970s.

Mr Bodden drew attention to the historical sale of freehold property all along the Seven Mile Beach area from Caymanian families to foreigners by referring to it as "Theft," and adding that the problem of losing so much had been compounded by the failure of those who had received money for the transaction to invest it in their education, or a similar forward-looking venture.

"Instead, what transpired was the development of attitudes which led to what I call the revolution of rising expectations and rampant consumerism. Economic prosperity from these years buoyed Caymanian society into thinking that such phenomenal growth was guaranteed.

"The society basked in self-congratulation... neglecting to factor that success brings its own set of challenges and forgetting to create education vehicles for the children and grandchildren of the future," he said.

The conference panels during the morning and afternoon were split into several different groups, so that attendees could choose which one they wished to attend.

During the morning sessions included "The Creative Process and the Visioning and Creation of Caribbean Cultural Identity"; "Issues in Caribbean Musical Expressions as Forms of Cultural Identity"; and "Changing the Culture of Math teaching and Technology in the Caribbean."

The later sessions in the morning included the topics: "Issues in Science and Management of the Turtle Farm"; "The Struggle to Sustain a Caymanian Identity"; and "Issues In Education."

During lunchtime, attendees were entertained by Ken Corsbie, with a small group of local performers, in the Sir Vassel Johnson Hall.

The afternoon presentations included "Interrogating Caymanian History, Culture and Society"; "The Culture of Work, Shopping and Real Estate in the Cayman Islands"; "Literature as a Tool of Analysis of the Caribbean Situation"; "Issues in the Culture of Change and Change Management"; "Culture in the Caymanian Classroom"; and "Sports and Health Care in the Cayman Islands".

- Christopher Tobutt

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