Post date: Feb 10, 2021 9:30:27 AM
Second meeting of the International Scientific Committee (ISC)
Online Meeting (Zoom platform)
25 – 27 January 2021
Vice-Chancellor’s Speech
Honourable, Avinash Teeluck, Minister of Arts and Cultural Heritage
Your Excellency, Marie Levens, Minister of Education, Science and Culture, Suriname
Mr Hugue Ngandeu, Programme Specialist for Social and Human Sciences UNESCO regional office for Eastern Africa
Dr V Teelock, GOSK, Chairperson, Indentured Labour Route Project
Mrs. Roseline Daan, Directors of Culture for Suriname, Trinidad
Mr Hugue Ngandeu, Regional Representative for UNESCO in East Africa
Excellencies & Members of the Diplomatic Corps, (India, UK, Australia, France & South Africa)
Senior Chief Executives & Permanent Secretaries of Ministries
Representatives of UNESCO National Commissions for Mauritius and Trinidad
Chairpersons and Board members of Parastatals in Mauritius
NGOs and Socio-Cultural associations
University Colleagues & Students
A very Good Afternoon and welcome to all of you, those physically present and those over Zoom. This is the new normal.
On behalf of the University of Mauritius it is my great pleasure to host this three-day International Scientific Committee meeting for the Indentured Labour Route Project.
Referring to UNESCO EXECUTIVE BOARD’S DECISIONS in 2014, I quote:
‘Encourages Member States to support the international “Indentured Labour Route”
project, and welcomes similar projects aimed at further promoting a culture of peace, cultural pluralism and intercultural dialogue.’
The UN General Assembly in Dec 2019 adopted three resolutions on the culture of peace, highlighting the need to foster inter-religious and cultural dialogue, temper social media and bolster education in efforts to prevent future clashes between and within societies.
I cannot not link that to the SDGs. Indeed, The 17 Sustainable Development Goals can best be achieved by drawing upon the creative potential of the world’s diverse cultures, and engaging in continuous dialogue to ensure that all members of society benefit from sustainable development.
SDG 16 is precisely about inclusive and peaceful societies.
Culture is who we are, and what shapes our identity. Placing culture at the heart of development policies is the only way to ensure a human-centered, inclusive and equitable development. Culture is explicitly addressed in Goal 11 - to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable which identifies cultural and natural heritage as essential levers for promoting sustainable development.
I wish to reaffirm the support of the University for all the endeavours undertaken by your Ministry to promote scientific knowledge and study of history. We have had here at the University many important events and undertaken pioneering historical and archaeological research that has led to Mauritius being placed on the world scene :
The discovery of maroon caves on top of Le Morne mountain, which is now a World Heritage site, and of course,
Archaeological research at Aapravasi Ghat which led to uncovering the original remains of the Immigration Office. This too contributed to the Aapravasi Ghat becoming a World Heritage site.
The University is currently involved in a major Digital Inventorying project of materials on Slavery and Indenture in Mauritius and it will be our pleasure to contribute to implementation of projects falling under the Indentured Labour Route: training of personnel, digital projects etc.
Already it seems that the research and technical Unit at Aapravasi Ghat Trust Fund is staffed by history graduates from the University !
As we talk more and more of decolonising the curriculum, I would like to suggest the mounting of a Bachelor in Ocean Studies where cultural heritage would have be an important topic. It’s about challenging longstanding biases and omissions that limit how we understand politics and society. We have a lot to offer to the world.
I wish the Scientific Committee fruitful deliberations and once again reiterate the University’s support in your endeavours.
Thank you
Professor D Jhurry, CSK, GOSK, FAAS