A/HRC/23/34/Add.2 products, and that they remain at the mercy of the police who can decide to chase them off the street at any time. 61. Numerous festivals and cultural events rooted in tradition and history take place throughout the year, with support from the Government, the private sector or both. However, there is need to ensure that all the different islands and groups have equal opportunities to host and participate in events. Support from the private sector for the arts as well as for cultural activities should be encouraged, taking into consideration also the need to protect the freedom and autonomy of artists. 62. The Special Rapporteur notes in particular that small groups, such as the Maroons on Union Island, who have a distinct cultural identity and strive to maintain their particular traditions, including traditional dance and big drums, do not seem to receive sufficient attention and support. The Maroons seek opportunities to research and claim their cultural identity and pass cultural heritage to younger generations. Particular mention was made of the Maroon festival, which needs greater support. V. Conclusion and recommendations 63. The Special Rapporteur welcomes the efforts and steps taken by the Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, despite financial and human resources constraints, to ensure better recognition of cultural diversity in the country and protection of tangible and intangible cultural heritage. She also welcomes the support provided by the Government to various groups in their objective to protect and safeguard their cultural heritage and their quest for history. 64. More needs to be done, however, and the Special Rapporteur wishes to make the following recommendations to the Government: (a) Ensure, when conducting wide consultations for drafting its cultural policy, that stakeholders are informed sufficiently in advance with proper documentation; (b) Ensure coherence between cultural and tourism policies, through specific procedures or mechanisms, and in particular adequate consultation of the National Trust; (c) Require cultural impact assessments prior to major private or public development projects; (d) Strengthen support to heritage clubs in schools, and find and support ways to integrate local histories and literature into the school curriculum, including through the use of information and communication technologies; (e) Support the dissemination of alternative history textbooks and the organization of extracurricular activities on Vincentian history in schools; (f) Address the issue at the Caribbean (regional) level on how local histories can be better reflected and incorporated in textbooks as well as examinations; (g) Address the issue of access to relevant archives located in countries such as the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and France. This could include seeking support, including from these countries, for Vincentian historians to conduct their research abroad, for example through scholarships, and to have facilitated access thanks to the digitalization of archives; 13