Breathing New Life into Old Skills with Formal Recognition

Traditional boat building in Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique has a rich and proud history. While a vibrant part of the country’s culture, fears remained that the skills involved would not be passed down. ... [ view full abstract ]

Traditional boat building in Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique has a rich and proud history. While a vibrant part of the country’s culture, fears remained that the skills involved would not be passed down. Traditional boat building, especially in terms of tourism, offers economic possibilities that can support the local economy while helping to protect, preserve and revitalize these traditional skills. Through a DACUM process, occupational standards were developed in October 2016 providing current practitioners with a way to obtain a formally recognized credential (National/Caribbean Vocational Qualification – Levels 1-5) and eventually become accredited trainers/assessors for new entrants into the vocation. To support sustainability, it was recommended that training be offered in partnership between educational institutions and a “living” wooden boat museum that would not only preserve the history of the sector, but breathe new life into traditional skills and provide a focal point for training, workshops and cultural events.