USM’s Orange Economy Symposium Ignites Creative Vision
June 17, 2025
USM brought together artists, educators, and changemakers at its Orange Economy Symposium to spotlight the creative sector’s role in Caribbean development. From film to fashion and youth activism, the event affirmed culture as a pillar of economic transformation.
Pond Island, On Saturday, June 7th, the University of St. Martin (USM) hosted a transformative Orange Economy Symposium, convening creatives, educators, policymakers, and thought leaders from across the Caribbean and beyond to explore the untapped potential of the cultural and creative industries as key drivers of economic growth and sustainable development.
The symposium, held in conjunction with the 24th Annual St. Martin Book Fair and championed by Dr. Rhoda Arrindell, created a dynamic campus atmosphere of literary celebration, cultural pride, and creative exchange. It attracted a steady stream of participants from government officials and industry professionals to students and emerging artists affirming growing interest in the Orange Economy and its relevance to economic diversification, youth empowerment, and nation-building.
With the Caribbean facing increasing global economic uncertainty, climate threats, and calls for innovation, the symposium underscored the urgency for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) to shift away from traditional, monocrop economic models. In her opening address, Dr. Gale T.C. Rigobert, Dean of Academics at USM and the driving force behind the symposium, emphasized the often-underappreciated value of local creative talent.
“From visual artists to filmmakers, musicians to fashion designers, writers to digital innovators our people are bursting with creativity,” she declared. “Yet for too long, these gifts have been undervalued, underfunded, and, sadly, often overlooked in national economic agendas.”
She reaffirmed USM’s commitment to fusing academic insight with practical solutions, noting, “We are actively building bridges between scholarship, industry, and public engagement to ensure that the creative economy is recognized for what it truly is: a powerful and desirable driver of growth.”
The day’s program featured a series of thought-provoking panels and presentations addressing key themes such as the role of screen industries in building resilience in SIDS, regional collaboration in film, educational pathways for the creative sector, and the development of robust ecosystems for screen and digital content production.
Distinguished speakers included Peter Rudge of the Creative Island Forum, Richard Caunt, Ellen Hoch-Kramer of the Caribbean Production Service Company, and Dr. Keith Nurse, President of COSTAATT. Mr. Koert A. Kerkhodd delivered remarks on behalf of the Department of Culture, while Bernadette Davis, Second Vice President of the Collectivité de Saint-Martin, also addressed attendees.
Additional contributions came from Professor Allain Maurin and Ms. Cyrielle Sssys of the University of the Antilles, Pamela Martin of the Nevis Film Commission, and Joel Ayuk, producer of the acclaimed film Chokehold.
A compelling session on Intellectual Property (IP) Rights emphasized the economic power of copyright, trademarks, and patents in helping creatives monetize their work: “Having the proper trademark or copyright protections in place doesn’t just defend your creative rights it ensures you can live off your work,” said Jarvin Octave of ECCO Music Rights (Saint Lucia). “We need to train our artists and more importantly, our youth on how to secure their creative future. The creative industry isn’t just entertainment it’s a legitimate, sustainable business.”
Youth-led panels such as Youth Voices on Reparations and Telling Caribbean Stories: Culture, Heritage, Creativity and Climate provided powerful insights from emerging creatives including Lisandro Suriel, Carmin Wong, Stephe Gumbs, and Shanice Theodule. The panel was skillfully moderated by Alston Lourens, who guided the conversation with thoughtful reflection and critical engagement. Their contributions advocated for the preservation of Caribbean identity and heritage through storytelling, and addressed the urgency of climate justice and youth inclusion.
The synergy between the Book Fair and the symposium was amplified by spoken word open mic sessions under the campus gazebo, where poets and authors brought personal stories and cultural reflection to life through vibrant performances.
A particularly emotional and memorable moment came when Dr. Rigobert announced that this would be her final public address as Dean of Academics, marking the end of her impactful tenure at USM: “It has been an absolute pleasure and privilege to serve at this institution,” she said. “I have particularly cherished championing, curating, and delivering the public lecture series as part of USM’s 35th-anniversary commemorations.” “Everything I have accomplished over the past 18 months has been possible because of your belief in USM and our shared vision for human development. I leave confident that USM has the internal capacity and external goodwill to continue along its dynamic path of growth.”
USM President Dr. Antonio Carmona Báez praised the event’s alignment with USM’s broader mission: “The Orange Economy Symposium reflects USM’s commitment to supporting creative entrepreneurship, education, and policy development in St. Martin. By uniting scholars, artists, and visionaries from across the region, we are laying the groundwork for a thriving creative economy that values our stories, talents, and cultural heritage.”
The University of St. Martin extends its sincere appreciation to all speakers, panelists, moderators, partners, and attendees for their contributions to a meaningful and impactful event. Special thanks are extended to Dr. Gale Rigobert for her visionary leadership and dedicated service to the institution and to the people of St. Martin.
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The symposium, held in conjunction with the 24th Annual St. Martin Book Fair and championed by Dr. Rhoda Arrindell, created a dynamic campus atmosphere of literary celebration, cultural pride, and creative exchange. It attracted a steady stream of participants from government officials and industry professionals to students and emerging artists affirming growing interest in the Orange Economy and its relevance to economic diversification, youth empowerment, and nation-building.
With the Caribbean facing increasing global economic uncertainty, climate threats, and calls for innovation, the symposium underscored the urgency for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) to shift away from traditional, monocrop economic models. In her opening address, Dr. Gale T.C. Rigobert, Dean of Academics at USM and the driving force behind the symposium, emphasized the often-underappreciated value of local creative talent.
“From visual artists to filmmakers, musicians to fashion designers, writers to digital innovators our people are bursting with creativity,” she declared. “Yet for too long, these gifts have been undervalued, underfunded, and, sadly, often overlooked in national economic agendas.”
She reaffirmed USM’s commitment to fusing academic insight with practical solutions, noting, “We are actively building bridges between scholarship, industry, and public engagement to ensure that the creative economy is recognized for what it truly is: a powerful and desirable driver of growth.”
The day’s program featured a series of thought-provoking panels and presentations addressing key themes such as the role of screen industries in building resilience in SIDS, regional collaboration in film, educational pathways for the creative sector, and the development of robust ecosystems for screen and digital content production.
Distinguished speakers included Peter Rudge of the Creative Island Forum, Richard Caunt, Ellen Hoch-Kramer of the Caribbean Production Service Company, and Dr. Keith Nurse, President of COSTAATT. Mr. Koert A. Kerkhodd delivered remarks on behalf of the Department of Culture, while Bernadette Davis, Second Vice President of the Collectivité de Saint-Martin, also addressed attendees.
Additional contributions came from Professor Allain Maurin and Ms. Cyrielle Sssys of the University of the Antilles, Pamela Martin of the Nevis Film Commission, and Joel Ayuk, producer of the acclaimed film Chokehold.
A compelling session on Intellectual Property (IP) Rights emphasized the economic power of copyright, trademarks, and patents in helping creatives monetize their work: “Having the proper trademark or copyright protections in place doesn’t just defend your creative rights it ensures you can live off your work,” said Jarvin Octave of ECCO Music Rights (Saint Lucia). “We need to train our artists and more importantly, our youth on how to secure their creative future. The creative industry isn’t just entertainment it’s a legitimate, sustainable business.”
Youth-led panels such as Youth Voices on Reparations and Telling Caribbean Stories: Culture, Heritage, Creativity and Climate provided powerful insights from emerging creatives including Lisandro Suriel, Carmin Wong, Stephe Gumbs, and Shanice Theodule. The panel was skillfully moderated by Alston Lourens, who guided the conversation with thoughtful reflection and critical engagement. Their contributions advocated for the preservation of Caribbean identity and heritage through storytelling, and addressed the urgency of climate justice and youth inclusion.
The synergy between the Book Fair and the symposium was amplified by spoken word open mic sessions under the campus gazebo, where poets and authors brought personal stories and cultural reflection to life through vibrant performances.
A particularly emotional and memorable moment came when Dr. Rigobert announced that this would be her final public address as Dean of Academics, marking the end of her impactful tenure at USM: “It has been an absolute pleasure and privilege to serve at this institution,” she said. “I have particularly cherished championing, curating, and delivering the public lecture series as part of USM’s 35th-anniversary commemorations.” “Everything I have accomplished over the past 18 months has been possible because of your belief in USM and our shared vision for human development. I leave confident that USM has the internal capacity and external goodwill to continue along its dynamic path of growth.”
USM President Dr. Antonio Carmona Báez praised the event’s alignment with USM’s broader mission: “The Orange Economy Symposium reflects USM’s commitment to supporting creative entrepreneurship, education, and policy development in St. Martin. By uniting scholars, artists, and visionaries from across the region, we are laying the groundwork for a thriving creative economy that values our stories, talents, and cultural heritage.”
The University of St. Martin extends its sincere appreciation to all speakers, panelists, moderators, partners, and attendees for their contributions to a meaningful and impactful event. Special thanks are extended to Dr. Gale Rigobert for her visionary leadership and dedicated service to the institution and to the people of St. Martin.
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