CARICOM Mourns Passing of Culture Director of Antigua and Barbuda
The Caribbean Community is mourning the loss of a significant contributor to culture in the Region. Mr. Vaughn Walter, the Director of Culture of Antigua and Barbuda has died.
The news has filled the CARICOM Secretariat and the Regional Cultural Committee (RCC) with immense sadness and a deep sense of loss.
Mr. Walter was known for his extensive knowledge of Antigua and Barbuda’s history and culture. From 1999, he served as the Coordinator of Antigua and Barbuda’s Carnival and subsequently as the Chairman of Carnival. In 2009, he became the Director of Culture.
He was an active member of the RCC, which comprises CARICOM’s Directors of Culture, and served during 2016 and 2017 as the Chair of this regional advisory body.
Being very passionate about promoting the arts and culture of Antigua and Barbuda and the wider Caribbean, he led his country’s delegation to four editions of the Caribbean Festival of Arts (CARIFESTA) since 2013. Vaughn Walter became a Member of the CARIFESTA Interim Festival Directorate in 2018, representing Antigua and Barbuda as the next host country of CARIFESTA. In May 2019, he was assigned the role of Festival Director for CARIFESTA XV, which will be hosted by Antigua and Barbuda in 2021. Under his leadership, Antigua and Barbuda had a consistently strong and engaging country presence at CARIFESTA, especially at the recently held CARIFESTA XIV in Trinidad and Tobago in August 2019.
Vaughn Walter was the son of Antigua and Barbuda’s second Premier and National Hero, Sir George Herbert Walter and Hyacinth Walter.
Vaughn Walter was a dear friend and will be very much missed by his CARICOM family. His inspiring leadership and insightful contributions in culture meetings, his enthusiasm and infectious spirit were highly valued by his colleagues in the Regional Cultural Committee, the CARIFESTA Interim Festival Directorate and the CARICOM Secretariat.
The CARICOM Secretariat extends on behalf of the Community, the Regional Cultural Committee and CARIFESTA, heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, colleagues and the Government and people of Antigua and Barbuda. The region has lost a distinguished son. May God grant him eternal peace.