Bridging The Gap Between Existing Rural Development Policies And Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) For The Revitalization Of Victoria Village

This research focuses on identifying the existing problems with the current agricultural rural development policy of Victoria village,to account for the village’s economic and physical decline.It then proposes recommendations for alleviating these problems that promote the integration of Intangible Cultural Heritage into the village’s rural development policy.The research topic is therefore: “Bridging the gap between existing Rural Development Policies and Intangible Cultural Heritage(ICH)for the Revitalization of Victoria Village”Victoria is a rural community located on the Atlantic Coast of Guyana.Formerly known as Plantation Northbrook,this village bears historical significance since it is recognized as the first village to be purchased by previously enslaved Africans immediately following Emancipation.Additionally,Victoria is known to have a strong cultural base derived from its ancestors and passed down from one generation to another,within families.Traditional African Guyanese folklore such as Masquerade,Queh Queh and storytelling are still practiced in Victoria,as well as traditional foods such as Cassava bread and Quinches are still produced in the village.Overtime,the village has experienced a downward trajectory that the researcher believes is directly linked to its failing rural development policy,which is based solely on agriculture.Research on Victoria has revealed that the agricultural sector,on which Victorians have relied since the establishment of the village in 1839,has not resulted in the creation and sustenance of a vibrant village economy.One of the major reasons for this is the severe flooding experienced in the village.Guyana’s coastline sits at a range of 0.5 to 1.5 meters below sea level,therefore Victoria,like some other villages along the coast are below sea level.Some of these villages were also established in a most peculiar way,by reclaiming the land from the water.Thus,during periods of heavy rainfall farmlands become flooded and are inaccessible or farmers are required to expend large sums of money to maintain existing,elaborate drainage systems.Farmers have also struggled to consistently sell their produce during harvest season because there is no established market place in Victoria;some farmers have even resorted to vending on the sides of the main road.In some instances villagers opt to buy produce in the capital,Georgetown,where they work because the prices are lower.This leaves farmers in Victoria with an excess of unsold products.Some villagers have continued the tradition of producing agro-processed items in the way taught to them by their fore parents using fresh agricultural produce,thus Victoria is often called the land of Cassareep,Cassava bread,Quinches and Coconut oil.However,these producers have also experienced severe challenges especially in the area of securing substantial markets for their products.Therefore they have received little incentives over the years to keep these practices alive.The researcher has employed the methodology of conducting,archival research,a village survey and interviews with a few key persons to gather data related to the problems being faced with the existing agricultural rural development policy of Victoria.These data collection methods revealed the following: i)There is limited industry diversification which results in most residents of Victoria village all experiencing the same shocks to the industry at the same time,as well as,limited opportunities for upward mobility within the saturated agricultural industry,ii)Failure to establish a permanent market place for agricultural products to be sold,lack of support for expanding the production of value-added products and the inability to secure stable demand for the supply of these value-added agricultural products,iii)Failure to encourage physical renewal activities,which has resulted in rural decay and the presence of several dilapidated and abandoned buildings in the village,iv)The lack of cultural preservation policy which has resulted in some aspects of intangible cultural heritage traditionally associated with the village being lost.Given the foregoing,and cognizant of,Victoria’s historical significance and rich cultural heritage which,as can be observed from examples in other parts of the world,can support a thriving industry;the fact that Victoria cannot abandon agriculture completely,since many in the village still rely on it for sustenance as well as,food security is a critical concern for the village and worldwide and the fact that there already exists an elaborate drainage system along the coast,including a sea defense,sluices,canals and culverts that require heavy financial investment and technical expertise to maintain;this researcher will not suggest yet another technical solution for the ongoing problems,but will focus on how the community can leverage its history and cultural resources to diversify its village economy so that the residents of Victoria can take the lead on alleviating their own plight.The researcher proposes combining existing agricultural production with Victoria’s rich,untapped history and culture using an Integrated Rural Development approach,for the revitalization of Victoria Village.This approach will promote the establishment of a physical entity called,“Cassava and Culture: The Victoria Food Factory and Museum”.This entity will be created through the renovation of a large abandoned building in the Victoria community called the GRECO building.The Victoria Food Factory and Museum will provide the space and equipment for agroprocessors from Victoria village to produce on a large scale and teach other Victorians how to produce their historically and currently produced specialty items such as Cassareep,Cassava Bread,Quinches and Coconut oil,which are made using their local agricultural products of Cassava and coconut.The traditional knowledge of making these items will be preserved alongside other aspects of Intangible Cultural Heritage currently existing in Victoria,such as Folklore in the form of Masquerades,a medicinal technique called “Cupping Nara” and a pre-wedding celebration called Queh Queh,which will be displayed for public enjoyment at the Museum.The Victoria Food Factory and Museum will also offer a secure outdoor market space where vendors may sell their fresh produce and artisanal products.While this approach may not be a new one,it has not been attempted in Guyana or even the Caribbean;therefore in the local and regional contexts it is novel.This research concludes that this approach will result in the revitalization of Victoria village because it will specifically address the shortcomings of the existing agricultural rural development policy as well as Victoria will receive the benefits of tapping into its Intangible Cultural Heritage as an economic source: 1)It will promote economic diversification and create new streams of income for villagers.For example,villagers who are cultural bearers will have the opportunity to use their skills to generate income.2)It will establish a permanent market place where villagers can sell their produce.It will also provide the space and equipment for villagers to expand their production of value-added agricultural products while securing an additional market for these products through the patrons who will visit the Museum.It will also raise the profile of the products produced,which will aid in marketing the products to nearby communities,other consumers in and outside of Guyana.3)The renovation of the GRECO building to house this entity will begin a much-needed rural renewal movement in Victoria,which will encourage Victorians to take pride in their surroundings and to renovated the other dilapidated and abandoned buildings in the village so they can be more useful to the community and finally 4)The fact that the sustainability of the Museum will rely on the survival of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Victoria will motivate cultural bearers and other Victorians to put mechanisms in place to document,catalogue,preserve and pass down this ICH to future generations.The researcher believes that the framework created by UNESCO in its 2003 Convention for the safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage is useful in this regard.Therefore the researcher relied on it for definitions and guidance during this research process.Further,the researcher also conducted an online survey,using the proposed entity,the Victoria Food Factory and Museum,to gauge the interest of the wider Guyanese society as it relates to supporting the entity.A majority of the feedback received during this survey was positive.This research is significant,not only for alleviating Victoria’s problems but also,it provides a flexible rural development model that can be adapted to suit other villages with similar challenges.When the economies of Guyanese villages drive,the Guyanese economy will also thrive.