CREATE

Pamela Coke-Hamilton, Executive Director Caribbean Export Development Agency

The international community continues to recognize andembrace the increasing and undeniable role of culture in development. Many of our Caribbean states however, continue to struggle with its significance whilst others move assertively to enable its contribution to economic growth. With all the varying approaches what is unquestionable is our ability as a region to meaningfully contribute to the global creative landscape. The only musical instrument developed in the 20th century was imagined and created in the Caribbean twin islands of Trinidad and Tobago. The musical genre of Reggae and its iconic figure, Bob Marley who captivated the globe and continues to do so decades after his death is from the Caribbean island of Jamaica. The list can actually go on to even include more recent exploits such as the Barbadian international sensation, Rihanna who to date, continues to break records in the music industry. There is enough documentation and research to indicate that inextricably linked to economic growth is a buoyant and vibrant cultural and creative economy. A lot of this is particularly evidenced in societies where the cultural mix is often diverse and allows for the cross fertilization of varying perspectives and for ideas to germinate into creative expressions which spawn new products, businesses and industries. Our benefit in the region is that nowhere in the world is that cultural mix more intensely represented and condensed than in the Caribbean. The creative talent and expression which exude as a result, is everywhere. Our job as a development agency is to give structure and open opportunities for creative talent to blossom and grow into strong exportable products for the rest of the world to embrace, purchase, and enjoy. It is for us to help build a quintessential, globally recognizable Caribbean brand. By no means is this an easy task but it is very much a doable one. One with the potential to transform faltering economies within the region and inject new approaches into age old views about where the source of economic growth will come from in a 21st century marketplace. It’s our designers, musicians, filmmakers and artistes who will lead the change in a creative economy. This publication is but a small representation of what is possible with the right support. It showcases only a microcosm of those brave and persevering creative entrepreneurs who dared to challenge the status quo and demonstrate the huge possibilities resident in the creative industries. Caribbean Export Development Agency stands beside these entrepreneurs helping to lead the charge in giving credence to the transformative effect of the creative industries and its ability to be a meaningful contributor to GDP.

Pamela Coke-Hamilton, Executive Director Caribbean Export Development Agency

“It’s our designers, musicians, filmmakers and artistes who wil l lead the change in a creative economy.”

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