3 which was celebrated by NGOs only for some time, was taken on board by the Department of Arts and Culture and it is now celebrated annually as the Botswana National Languages Day. The Department now has permanent funding for festivals for several cultural groups to maintain their identities. The Government has ratified the Convention on Intangible Heritage and continued to document such heritage on some tribes including the non-Tswana groups. The President’s holidays are characterised by competitions in visual and performing arts at regional and national levels, stimulating talent with the view to address poverty. This year, there were consultations on chieftaincy matters with two non-Tswana tribes – the Bekuhane and Babirwa. Consultations on the application of the Wayeyi to be recognised as a tribe in line with the new Bogosi Act were completed in 2009. Engagement with government has been possible in a few instances and minorities issues have been raised in Parliament. In this regard there has been compliance with a number of articles of the Declaration including articles: 2.1, 2.2, 2.4, 2.5, 3.1, 4.2 and 4.5. On the other hand, I also note room for improvement. Creativity and talent cultivation in a