The Virgin Islands is expected to receive further assistance with the management of its records at a Disaster Response and Recovery Working Conference in St. Marteen.

Chief Records Management Officer, Mr. Christopher Varlack will attend the conference organised by the Caribbean Branch of the International Council on Archives (CARBICA) from July 31 to August 3.

The event is designed to bring together International and regional policy makers, emergency responders and cultural heritage stewards to exchange priorities and methods that will ensure the best possible outcomes for the regional protection of people, property and cultural heritage.

“This is an opportune time for information sharing, which is critical as we try to implement innovative ways to ensure that we are less vulnerable to disasters,” Mr. Varlack said.

He added that the upcoming conference is a practical real-world activity that can be used to improve planning and recovery strategies for records, archives and cultural heritage. Mr. Varlack said that aside from learning planning and recovery techniques, it will be rewarding to share knowledge and experiences with regional and international colleagues and use that information to assist colleagues at home.

The Chief Records Management Officer will also make a presentation in a session titled, ‘Islands Responses/Challenges to the protection of Heritage 2017’ that will highlight the effects of the 2017 disaster events on the archives and other cultural heritage areas of the Virgin Islands. The session will be moderated by Curacao’s Director of National Archives Mr. Max Scriwanek.  

In April of this year, CARBICA commissioned an assessment conducted by Head of Conservation at the Curacao National Archives, Mrs. Valérie Martens-Monier, to review the damage to buildings and records collections in the Territory. Mrs. Martens-Monier met with a cross-section of records managers and responsible officers from Jost Van Dyke to Virgin Gorda to advise on ongoing stabilisation of damaged collections. Her observations from assessments in St Maarten, Dominica and the Virgin Islands will also be shared at the conference.

The mission of the International Council on Archives (ICA) is to promote the preservation and use of archives around the world. The ICA in pursuing this mission, works for the protection and enhancement of the memory of the world and to improve communication while respecting cultural diversity. The Caribbean Branch of the International Council on Archives (CARBICA) is responsible for carrying out the policy and programmes of the ICA in the region, where these are relevant to its members.

The Archives and Records Management Unit can be contacted at 468-3044 for more information.

NOTES:

Photo Caption - Chief Records Management Officer, Mr. Christopher Varlack

Document - Caribbean Branch of the International Council on Archives July 2018 issue.