Minister of Social Cohesion Dr. George Norton on Wednesday announced plans for the construction of new national monuments as part of his ministry’s work programme for the coming year.
Speaking during the debate on the government’s proposed 2018 budget, Norton told the National Assembly that his ministry will be working under the theme “Fostering Harmonious Relationships and Building a Unified Country Enabled by Culture, Youth and Sports” next year.
He noted that there is an allocation of over $700 million under the Cultural Preservation and Conser-vation Programme, which will see the construction of buildings for the National School of Music and the National School of Theatre Arts and Drama. He said the Walter Roth Museum of Anthropology, the National Museum and the Museum of African Heritage will also be upgraded. He also mentioned the construction of an Institute of Creative Arts. Plans for the establishment of the Institute were announced in last year’s budget and it was supposed to have been completed this year.
Under the National Trust, he added,