VZCZCXRO3943
PP RUEHGR
DE RUEHPO #0136/01 0951802
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 041802Z APR 08
FM AMEMBASSY PARAMARIBO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0091
INFO RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHAO/AMCONSUL CURACAO PRIORITY 1246

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PARAMARIBO 000136 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
WHA/PDA FOR CHAD WEST, WHA/CAR FOR JROSHOLT, ECA FOR 
BLAKENEY VASQUEZ, CAMILLE BARONE, PETER COZZENS, COLOMBIA 
BARROSSE, SANDRA ROUSE, AND JILL STAGGS, POSTS FOR PAOS/CAOS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OEXC OPRC NS
SUBJECT: "ONE DRUM:"  FUNKY, INEXPENSIVE PICK-ME-UP FOR 
BLACK HISTORY MONTH 
 
REF: A. PARAMARIBO 117 
 
     ¶B. PARAMARIBO 121 
     ¶C. PARAMARIBO 132 
     ¶D. PARAMARIBO 88 
 
PARAMARIBO 00000136  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶1.  (U)  Summary:  With PD resources already nearly 
exhausted, Post has sought to maintain cultural and outreach 
programming through the use of "window of opportunity" 
speakers and events (refs A-C).  On March 8, Post was pleased 
to take advantage of an invitation to be a part of "Wan 
Dron," or "One Drum," an event put on by the Cultural Center 
of Suriname (CCS).  Moreover, Post was flattered and eager to 
take advantage when CCS sought to strengthen the event by 
linking it to Black History Month.  Although Black History 
Month officially ended with February, Post "extended" Black 
History Month by two weeks to take advantage of "One Drum" 
and other window of opportunity events.  "One Drum" attracted 
an audience of approximately 200 to hear a message of 
multi-ethnic harmony as part of the closing ceremony for a 
drum workshop.  The U.S. government was included as a 
prominent sponsor, and PolOff spoke on renowned Black 
American drummer Max Roach, followed by a tribute to Roach by 
organizer and professional local drummer Gregory Kranenburg, 
renowned in both Suriname and the Netherlands.  END SUMMARY 
 
¶2.  (U)  Type of Program: Post-organized "Window of 
Opportunity" program.  MSP goal addressed:  Goal No. 1: 
"Mutual U.S./Suriname appreciation and respect contributing 
to a more effective partnership." 
 
¶3.  (U)  Background:  The Cultural Center of Suriname (CCS), 
which houses the American Corner, is an important partner for 
cultural outreach, and was the venue for all four Black 
History Month events in 2007.  In 2008, due to renovations 
underway at CCS, the Embassy primarily used other venues. 
However, Elviera Sandie, director of CCS, approached the 
Embassy to be a part of a drum workshop CCS was concluding, 
hoping it could be part of Black History Month.  For minimal 
funding (the transportation of orphanage and boarding school 
children to the venue) the Embassy was included as a partner. 
 
 
¶4.  (U)  Evaluation of the Program:  Three drum bands from 
the Surinamese community marched from different locations 
around Paramaribo and convened in the courtyard of CCS to 
begin the program, after which the audience was invited into 
the hall by an impressive drum solo by a young boy of no more 
than six or seven years.  With the audience thus primed, 
sitting through the ceremonial handing out of the drum 
workshop certificates was less of a lull in the program than 
might otherwise have occurred.  PolOff spoke briefly about 
Max Roach and black history, after which Kranenburg performed 
a Roach piece on the drum.  He then led the audience and all 
the assembled drummers outside for a joint performance of 
"wan dron" (one drum), a fitting message of partnership to 
end the program.  Post was pleased to be a prominent part of 
this lively, well-organized event, and took the invitation as 
proof that its cultural programming and Black History efforts 
have upped our profile in Suriname. 
 
¶5.  (U)  Program Coordination:  Elviera Sandie of the CCS was 
essential in providing the opportunity to participate, 
repaying Post,s confidence in its close ties with the CCS. 
Post was also pleased that a friendship struck up with 
drummer/organizer Gregory Kranenburg during a radio program 
appearance in early February continued to bear fruit; 
Kranenburg had also rescued Post programming in February by 
stepping in on twenty hours notice to organize a workshop 
when the Rhythm Road band scheduled to come to Suriname was 
absent for its first event due to flight delays (ref D). 
 
¶6.  (U)  Program Costs:  Sandie originally approached Post 
for several thousand dollars.  Post told her it could only 
pay up to approximately $200 in audience transportation fees. 
 Post was very pleased to be included as a full sponsor with 
a prominent role in the programming despite having provided a 
relatively small portion of the overall program budget. 
 
¶7.  (U)  Impact of the Program:  "Wan Dron" provided the 
opportunity to further demonstrate the Embassy's ongoing 
commitment to promoting mutual understanding through cultural 
programming.  The Embassy's list of cultural contacts and 
intellectuals within Surinamese society continues to grow, 
providing additional opportunities to promote 
people-to-people diplomacy.  In addition, by being integrated 
into the cultural community and responding to the request of 
a local partner, Post was able to raise the profile of Post's 
 
PARAMARIBO 00000136  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
cultural programming at minimal cost. 
SCHREIBER HUGHES