Trinidad and Tobago – Keeping History Above Water

In episode 184 of America Adapts, we're headed to Trinidad and Tobago for the Keeping History Above Water conference. The event brought together international speakers and experts to discuss the challenges faced by island communities in the face of climate change. The goal of the conference was to advance the resilience and long-term preservation of Trinidad and Tobago's historic sites and cultural resources. Experts from Trinidad and Tobago, Montserrat, St. Maarten, Cuba, as well as cultural heritage experts from the United States joined the podcast. And did you know, this beautiful island nation is famous for creating the limbo dance and steel drums!

Topics covered:

• Climate change is threatening historic and coastal communities across the Caribbean region, including in Trinidad and Tobago.
• The conference brought together international speakers and experts to discuss the challenges faced by island communities due to climate change.
• The role of the National Trust of Trinidad and Tobago. Trinidad and Tobago is famous for the limbo dance and steel drums.
• Advancing the resilience and long-term preservation of Trinidad and Tobago's historic sites and cultural resources. The U.S. State Department is supporting climate adaptation. Perspectives from the U.S. Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago.
• Island communities are particularly vulnerable to climate change.
• Climate adaptation experts from Trinidad and Tobago, Montserrat, St. Maarten, Cuba, as well as cultural heritage experts from the United States, share their expertise.

Experts in this Episode:

• Lisa Craig – Principal The Craig Group
• Cheri-Ann Pascall - Tour Guide, Trinidad & Tobago Tour Guides Association
• Margaret MacDowell - Chairwoman, National Trust of Trinidad and Tobago
• Martin Perschler - Program Director, U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation, U.S. Department of State
• Dr. Cleary Larkin - Acting Director, Historic Preservation Program and Preservation Institute Nantucket; Department of Urban and Regional Planning; University of Florida
• Kishan Kumarsingh - Head of the Multilateral Environmental Agreements Unit, Ministry of Planning and Development
• Candace Bond - U.S. Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago
• Dr. Jay Haviser - Director, St. Maarten Archaeological Center
• Dr. Angela Schedel - Vice President, Coastal Resilience Planning at Taylor Engineering
• Dr. David Guggenheim - Marine Scientist
• Vernaire Bass - Manager, National Museum of Montserrat
• Jeff Goodell - Author of "The Water Will Come".
• Alderman Joel Martinez - His Worship the Mayor of Port of Spain
• Kara Roopsingh - Senior Heritage Preservation and Research Officer, National Trust Trinidad and Tobago

This episode was generously sponsored by The Craig Group.

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Contact The Craig Group here.

Social media image created by Angela Kliever

Special thanks to Catherine Childs for recording the "Donkey" story by Mr. Carlos.

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