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Fighting illicit trafficking of cultural property in the Caribbean
What is it that helps us to anchor ourselves in our culture The answer is as diverse as cultures are it includes stories natural specimens traditions such as dances and traditional artefacts that tell the story of our cultural heritage that create a sense of belonging
Nevertheless throughout history cultural heritage and cultural property around the world and in the Caribbean have been destroyed looted and illegally traded This trade in cultural goods ranges from the theft from heritage institutions or private collections to the looting of archaeological sites and the expulsion of artefacts due to wars Those stolen artefacts are offered to collectors museums or auction houses and bought for immense sums by collectors often without the buyers being aware of the criminal act
With every object a piece of cultural identity is stolen
