Caribbean Expert Center

 

Caribbean Expert Center

The Caribbean Expert Center combines expertise on the Caribbean area. The need for institutionalised knowledge about and research on the Caribbean area and Caribbean cultures is increasing due to Caribbean migration in addition to the continuing constitutional ties with the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba, and also the cultural, economic and political relationship with Suriname.

The structure of the Expert Center is according to a matrix model: a horizontal network crossing the boundaries of two KITLV-departments (Collections and Research). This means that Caribbean expertise has been incorporated in the structure of each department and is managed by the Caribbean coordinator.

Our very long, shared past has resulted in special ties for present and future. Moreover, transnational communities have come into existence. KITLV is the hub of Caribbean scholarship. In order to avoid colonial tunnel vision, all acquired expertise is placed in an all-Caribbean perspective.
The Caribbean Expert Center’s main tasks are:
 

  • The editing of the New West Indian Guide, and other publications with Caribbean subjects
  • The organisation of the Inter-University Caribbean Studies Course and other public activities 
  • Research on the position and development of the Caribbean countries (with special attention to the Netherlands Antilles, Aruba and Suriname) and their relation with the Netherlands
  • Fundraising in order to facilitate research
  • Acquisition, deployment, and indexation of Caribbean publications
  • Providing bibliographical resources based on these publications (Bibliography of the Netherlands Caribbean and Caribbean Abstracts)

Contact:
Irene Rolfes
Tel: +31 (0)71-527 2374
E-mail: caribbean@kitlv.nl

   
Paramaribo: Combe district Santiago de Cuba: city center