(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) His Excellency Bharrat Jagdeo, President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana has assured the Caribbean Region that it was safe to come to Guyana for the tenth staging of the Caribbean Festival of Arts (CARIFESTA) slated for 22-31 August, 2008.
President Jagdeo gave this assurance to an outdoor audience of thousands of Guyanese and a strong contingent of delegates from the Region at the official Launch of CARIFESTA on Wednesday, 23 April 2008.
He said that the Government would leave no stone unturned in ensuring a safe, secure and nurturing Guyana for the staging of the Caribbean’s leading cultural extravaganza, which the President asserted “offers us the opportunity of transcending those things that can blind, limit and divide us as people, as nations and as a Region”.
In unveiling the CARIFESTA Logo and song, the President remarked that staging the Festival for the second time in thirty-six years was both a responsibility and a blessing for Guyana: “… responsibility because as the initiators of the Festival, we understand that in coming full circle, we must be the standard bearer of its journey into the future; a blessing in that once again we get the opportunity to celebrate with our Caribbean brothers and sisters, the very finest offering of our artists, to share with them as we so love to do, our legendary hospitality,” President Jagdeo explained.
He said he assumed responsibility to host the Festival because he had full confidence in the strength and capabilities of his people to do in one year, what would have taken two years to stage.
The President reiterated his commitment to spare no effort in ascertaining that all the Caribbean’s expectations for the Festival were met. He further outlined the preparatory work towards the Festival and urged overseas visitors to come to CARIFESTA X, which would be “a Festival with a difference.”
In brief, yet rousing remarks at the Launch, the Minister with direct responsibility for the Festival, the Hon. Dr Frank Anthony, Guyana’s Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport urged the Region, “Don’t miss CARIFESTA.”
Dr Anthony described the Launch as setting the stage for the key players of CARIFESTA X. He further called for unity and cooperation in ensuring that visitors to the mainland would not be disappointed.
Assistant Secretary General, Foreign and Community Relations (FCR) in the CARICOM Secretariat also reiterated the continued support of the Secretariat to the Guyana Government in ensuring that the Festival was a resounding success, noting that it was a critical tool of the integration process as it promoted greater awareness of the many sides of our heritage.
Ambassador Granderson reiterated the Secretary General’s gratitude to Guyana for standing up when the Bahamas stood down in July of 2007.
Against the backdrop of a dazzling display of revelry, artistry and showmanship, the Government of Guyana on Wednesday rolled out its well-advanced plans for the staging of CARIFESTA X and according to Ambassador Granderson, “if what we see tonight is but a small taste of what we can expect from CARIFESTA X,” then the Region should anticipate what is to come with great excitement.
The rich cultural presentations choreographed by Paloma Mohamed, the Artistic Director of CARIFESTA and her energetic team included Guyana National Combined Steel Band tantalizing the crowd with Caribbean rhythms; Masquerades who exploded on stage with a riot of colours and drama; African Maroon and Javanese dancers from Suriname with their fusion of drumming, dancing and martial arts, blazing a path for the piece de resistance, the Limbo dancer, Makeba Gabriel from Trinidad and Tobago who ignited the audience with her fiery performance. The evening’s Launch climaxed with the spectacular unveiling of the CARIFESTA Logo and song signalled by His Excellency Bharrat Jagdeo.
The launch of CARIFESTA attracted delegations from several CARICOM and Latin American countries, including Directors of Culture, Members of the Interim Festival Directorate of CARIFESTA; Representatives of the Regional Culture Community and Members of the Artistic Community. CARIFESTA returns to its birthplace after thirty-six years and will be hosted under the theme: One Caribbean; One Purpose – Our Culture; Our Life.
