Guyana to boost infrastructure for CARIFESTA X

Guyana to boost infrastructure for CARIFESTA X

April 22, 2008
Caribbean Net News

GEORGETOWN, Guyana: As it prepares to host, for the second time in thirty-six years, the premier Festival of Arts in the Caribbean, the Government of Guyana is working ‘full speed ahead,’ to ensure that the necessary infrastructure is in place for the Caribbean Festival of Arts, CARIFESTA X slated for 22-31 August, 2008.

Hosted under the theme: One Caribbean, One purpose, Our Life, Our Culture, the tenth staging of CARIFESTA in Guyana boasts an impressive lineup of activities, including the opening and closing ceremonies, culinary, visual, literary and performing arts, community festivals, grand cultural market, child/youth fora, symposia and workshops, as well as signal events and super concerts.

The Government of Guyana had invited participation from just under fifty countries including CARICOM Member States and Associate Members, the wider Caribbean, Latin America and outside the Hemisphere. To date, confirmations of their intention to participate in the Festival were received from nineteen invitees including Associate Members, Anguilla and the British Virgin Islands; Member States: Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Montserrat, Saint Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis, Suriname, Turks and Caicos Islands and Trinidad and Tobago, and non-members, Austria, Brazil, Cuba, Netherlands Antilles and Venezuela.

Dr Frank Anthony, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport

Dr Frank Anthony, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport told the Guyana Media that his Government had allocated $305M in the Capital Budget for CARIFESTA preparations and work was already advanced in several areas.

Anthony said work included the ongoing installation of night lights at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, East Bank Demerara, and the light mast, fixtures and other equipment for that project would be delivered before the end of April.

The 57-acre National Park, which is earmarked as the site for the CARIFESTA Children and Youth Village as well as calypso and religious shows was also singled out for significant upgrading, and according to the Minister, a contract to repair two of the stands in the National Park had been awarded and work would commence shortly, while another, for the third stand, was being evaluated and would be tendered shortly. The tarmac in the park, he said would also be upgraded.

One of the exciting features of CARIFESTA is the Grand Cultural Market featuring fashion shows, booths for designers and displays, cultural performances and a culinary arts festival. Guyana will host the Grand Market at its expansive Sophia Exhibition Complex and according to Minister Anthony, the pavilion at the complex will be upgraded and more exits and convenient parking facilities created.

The award of a contract for the construction of an Amerindian village to showcase the culture of the indigenous peoples of Guyana will also be made soon.

CARIFESTA has returned to Guyana after thirty-six years, Guyana being the first host in 1972 which saw the birth of CARIFESTA.

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