Saint Lucia will observe International Day for People of African Descent today with two events: an international broadcast on the National Television Network (NTN) and the official launch of the Saint Lucian Chapter of the African Diaspora Development Institute (ADDI).
The NTN broadcast, starting at 11 am, will be a hybrid event with three presenters: two overseas and one local with prominent Caribbean diplomat Dr. June Soomer as the main presenter, with guest presenters on prominent African diplomat, the Ambassador Dr. Arikana Chihombori-Quao and Kofi Dovor, President of ADDI Saint Lucia.
Dr. Soomer, CARICOM Representative at the United Nations Permanent Forum for People of African Descent, will speak on: ‘Beyond the Decade: Why the Permanent Forum Matters for the Caribbean’.
Dr. Chihombori-Quao, President of the African Diaspora Development Institute (ADDI), will speak on its relevance to people of African descent around the world, while Mr. Dovor will speak on the plans of the local chapter of ADDI.
ADDI Saint Lucia has been active in the organizational stage for some time and Dovor says it will officially launch today, coinciding with the International Day for People of African Descent.
Both events on NTN today will also feature messages from the Government of Saint Lucia, the CARICOM Reparations Commission (CRC), and related spokespersons and UN agencies.
August 31 was designated by the United Nations as the International Day and was first observed in 2021, but the UN had also previously dedicated 2015-2024 as the International Decade for People of African Descent.
Sponsored by the Cultural Development Foundation (CDF) and the National Reparations Committee (NRC), today’s international broadcast will be live on Flow channel 124 and streamed live online.
The broadcast and launch of the ADDI Saint Lucia Chapter are also part of the activities to observe Emancipation Month 2022.
