Nevis to host IACA 2024, celebrating Caribbean heritage

Nevis: Nevis is all set to host the 30^th Congress of the International Association for Caribbean Archaeology (IACA) in order to celebrate the archaeological heritage of St. Kitts and Nevis.

While extending invitation to the citizens to register themselves for IACA 2024, Premier Mark Brantley stated that “This is a very big deal for this major conference to be happening here on Nevis. Please register if interested as it’s free to locals. It’s being hosted at NEPAC and the MGR Park.”

The main venue for the Congress will be the Nevis Performing Arts Center (NePAC) in Charlestown, which will bring several scholars, students, heritage managers, community members, and the public from across the region together with the vision to celebrate the rich and diverse cultural heritage of the nation.

While shedding light on the main aim of the congress, the authorities stated that it will be both the scientific presentation of recent and ground-breaking research. Along with that, it will also give all the attendees a platform to explore and celebrate the heritage of the Caribbean nations.

This year’s theme for the 30th Congress of the International Association for Caribbean Archaeology is “The Many Faces Shaping Caribbean Archaeology.” This year’s event aims to offer an opportunity to all the Nevisians and Kittitians, and the wider public to learn about the diversity of people, cultures and places that have contributed to the land and underwater archaeological heritage of this region. Also, the attendees will get a platform to learn about the diversity of people and communities that work to document and conserve the heritage.

Notably, the event was scheduled to take place from Wednesday, 14th August to Saturday, 17th August 2024. However, the authorities had to re-schedule the academic programme for the International Association for Caribbean Archaeology (IACA) due to Tropical Storm Ernesto. And, now the event will run from 15th-17th August 2024.

As per the updated schedule, today, the session will start at 8:30 am at Nevis Performing Arts Centre. After that, at 1:00 pm, the authorities will host the Archaeology and Heritage of St Kitts and Nevis. On the next day, i.e., 16th August, the session will be held at the same place, starting at 8:30 am.

Meanwhile, on 17th August, the session will take place at MGR Park Visitor Centre, starting at 9:15 am. Following that, at 11:45 am, the attendees will be taken for a free tour of Bath Hotel and Nevis Archaeology Centre. And at 1:00 pm, the attendees will get an opportunity to listen to the engaging and interactive words of the keynote speakers, like George Okello Abungu from Kenya and Kevin Farmer from Barbados.