Methodology
The workshop will involve the participants in a dynamic of awareness of the differences and commonalities of the cultures of the Caribbean to bring them to a position of ownership of the stakes of cultural diversity in the Caribbean and their pivotal role in the creation of a vision of the Information Society which favours a regional integration founded on respect for diversity.
The main objective is heightening the awareness of the key players, who will subsequently naturally apply and diffuse this sense of cultural diversity within integration; nevertheless, the production of a position paper as well as of a series of practical recommendations is part of the objective to be achieved.
In parallel, the key players in co-operation will concentrate on establishing common strategies in order to include consideration of cultural diversity.
The workshop of 30th August will begin with a group activity to identify mutual perceptions among the linguistic areas of the region, the recognition of erroneous perceptions, and the point of contact between one's own perceptions, and perceptions from outside. The aim of the workshop is to facilitate a better mutual understanding among the different linguistic groups, beyond the simple translation of languages, and to lay a foundation for a collective definition of a regional identity based on respect for diversity within the large space of commonality (historical and geographical). An inspirational introduction could be given by Sena�da Jansen and/or someone to be identified from the cultural world (perhaps through the Folk Research Centre of St Lucia)
The 31st August will begin with a review of the history of ICT4D activities (Daniel Pimienta) followed by an inventory (Yacine Khelladi) as an introduction to group work the aim of which is to identify the opportunities offered by ICT en route to integration, and the particular issues in the Caribbean for the creation of information societies.
The last day will be a synthesis with two workshops in parallel (civil society and international organisations) in the morning, and a plenary session in the afternoon. The "civil society" group will concentrate on collecting and organising the recommendations and will draw up a collective concept paper on the theme of information societies in the Caribbean.
In parallel, the group of international organisations will organise a common vision of strategies to be established in the region for a responsible and efficient consideration of cultural diversity in ICT4D activities in the region.