Miss Ringbang represents Caribbean at U.N. World Summit

Artiste Indra has recently returned to Barbados, after having being invited to represent the Caribbean at the United Nations ‘World Summit on The Information Society’ in Geneva, Switzerland, December 5-15, 2003.

Trinidadian media consultant and director of Media 2000, Josanne Leonard spearheaded the initiative, and along with Indra, represented the theme ‘Local Content and Knowledge’ – the Caribbean perspective.

“Eddy [Grant] was invited to be a panel member, but as he was busy working on another project in England, and unable to participate, the opportunity was then extended to me," Indra shared.

"The Ringbang philosophy peaked major interest among the delegates who visited. We made several presentations on the concept, the brand, and ringbang.com (as a Caribbean web portal) emphasizing the fact that our people need to manage and control their own information as well as the way it is being disseminated. Our 'challenge' is not knowledge, it is access."

Indra’s sole performance of an unreleased original entitled, ‘Fly,’ was filmed by both Australian and Irish television stations, and her remake of Grant’s ‘Walking On Sunshine’ from her debut album ‘Ringbang 4 Kids!’ was played during the closing of the summit. She has also been elected to steer the Barbados chapter of African online community forum, Africa2005.com (which consists of over 3,000 members.)

The ‘Caribbean Connection’ stand, colourfully decorated with posters, record jackets and promotional material from artists of the region, was truly alive, being the only to play music and videos/documentaries (by Caribbean artists) and the booth became a hub throughout the week, climaxing with a Friday evening ‘lime,’ when there were giveaways of music, literature, and various products bearing the distinct Ringbang brand.

“Simply put, W.S.I.S gives an organization or a group of people a chance to profile; to express a purpose and point of view to the policy-makers of the world, on an international scale. Our booth was the sole Caribbean presence, and the two of us did our best to represent all of our people, and holistically showcase the many facets of our region’s culture. Thanks to external sponsorship by the Swiss Agency For Development, I was able to speak on behalf of a beautiful people.

If we truly want to achieve regional integration and develop a strong cultural collective identity, we’ve got to begin with one common vision – a philosophy which places us first and as leaders of our own destiny.”

For more information on the United Nations ‘World Summit on The Information Society’2003, see website: www.itu.int/wsis.

Compliments of Ice Record

Music of the Islands