Rastas here for summit
Published on: 11/30/08.
The Nation (Barbados)
RASTAFARI from the region and beyond are gathering here for the 12th Summit, Cultural & Trade Expo of the Caribbean Rastafari Organisation (CRO).
The summit, which takes place between December 4 and 8, is intended to "expand the membership, secure the legitimacy and advance the mission of CRO". This mission is "to organise and centralise the Caribbean Rastafari community through sustainable trade and development programmes and activities in pursuit of our ultimate goal of reparations and repatriation".
The opening ceremony, on Thursday from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Solidarity House, Harmony Hall, St Michael, includes blessings by priests representing the houses of Nyabinghi, 12 Tribes of Israel and the Church of Haile Selassie I.
CRO co-chairperson Sister Asheba Trotman will make the opening address, followed by remarks from CRO chairperson King Frank-I. Minister of Culture Steve Blackett will deliver the feature address.
On Friday from 10 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. the summit on CRO business takes place at the Israel Lovell Foundation, also the venue for a public health seminar, public exhibition and sales from 7 p.m. until 10 p.m.
Queen's Park is the venue for Saturday's Cultural & Trade Expo, from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. It includes cultural presentations, paper presentations and health consultations. The park is also the venue for the next day's Cultural & Trade Expo 2 and Family Day, which runs from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.
The final day of the conference, Monday, December 8, starts with a Press conference at 10 a.m. at the Commission for Pan African Affairs, Hincks Street, The City, after which there will be a scenic heritage tour.