Cuba at the Intergovernmental Committee for the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Rabat, Nov 30 (RHC) Cuban Ambassador to Unesco, Yahima Esquivel, and representatives of the Movement of Light Rum Masters of the island expressed their gratitude today for the inscription of the knowledge of these experts in the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

This is a moment of special emotion, said the diplomat, moments after the Intergovernmental Committee for Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity endorsed in this capital the candidacy of an element that is part of Cuba's identity and reflects the social practice of knowledge transmitted through generations.

Esquivel acknowledged the work of various actors, such as the body that evaluates proposals to enrich the world heritage, the Unesco Secretariat, and the Committee composed of 24 member states of the multilateral body, a working group that meets here between November 28 and December 3 in its seventeenth session.

Thank you for allowing us to open this topic on a fundamental element for Cuban culture, the nation, and the carrier community, she stressed.

The ambassador conveyed to the forum hosted by Morocco a message of gratitude from the people and the government of the Antillean nation and considered the two days of debates on the candidacy of "The Knowledge of the Masters of Cuban Light Rum" an important reference in the future work of the Committee.

For their part, the first rum masters Juan Carlos González and César Martí highlighted the inscription on behalf of their colleagues and took advantage of the moment of joy to remember those who preceded them in the mission of perpetuating the liquid Cuban flavor. It is an honor for us to be here where we are thanks to the wisdom of masters who since the late 19th century have been able to create, preserve, enrich and transmit this cultural legacy," said Martí.

According to the expert, the seventh and eighth generations of depositaries of the peculiar knowledge currently assume the challenge of being faithful transmitters and defenders of the culture, "so that it continues to form an exquisite part of the traditions of the Cuban people".

The presence of the Lone Star flag in the session and the greeting of other delegations were moments of great joy and emotion, which stopped for a few minutes the hard work of the Committee, which examines more than 50 nominations to swell the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. (Source: PL)