Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Foreign Trade

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The tenth staging of the Caribbean Festival of the Arts (CARIFESTA X) is set to attract record participation from Caribbean Latin American, North American and European countries according to Guyana's Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, the Hon. Dr Frank Anthony.

In the first of a series of press briefings on CARIFESTA X started on Friday (9 May 2008), Dr Anthony told the Guyana Media that approximately 1300 of the expected 2000 delegates had already confirmed their participation in the Caribbean's premier cultural event to be staged in Guyana on 22-31 August, 2008.

The Minister said that enthusiasm had been building both regionally and internationally for CARIFESTA and to date, more than 22 countries from the Caribbean Community, Latin America, North America, Canada and Indonesia had confirmed their participation in the Festival.

Traditionally, CARIFESTA had showcased the top creators of the Caribbean in their varied artistic spheres. However, the Festival has opened its doors even wider to embrace more countries outside of CARICOM and Latin America.

Dr Anthony added that other countries such as Australia, United Kingdom, China, French Guiana and Morocco had also indicated an interest in participating in CARIFESTA X which is being hosted under the theme: One Caribbean; One Purpose - Our Culture; Our Life.

Expressing satisfaction with the response to the Festival so far, The Minister asserted that that an "aggressive awareness campaign" which is to be launched soon would further stimulate more international interest in the Festival and Guyana's Minister of Culture assured the world that adequate accommodation would be provided for the Festival.

He pointed to 3041 hotel rooms which were already in existence and announced his intention to augment this by re-activating the Bed and Breakfast programme that was successfully operated during Cricket World Cup 2007. In addition, the Minister said other hostel arrangements would be made to ensure adequate accommodation.

The Minister also reported that adequate ground and air transport would be made available and that the Ministry of Tourism would be ensuring adequate flights to Guyana under 'special arrangements.' With regard to ground transportation, the Minister issued a call for private operators to register their vehicles, which, if appropriate standards were met, would be accredited as part of the ground transportation fleet for delegates and other participants.

He emphasized that the drivers of those vehicles which were accredited would be trained in customer relations among other things.

Dr Anthony also made a call for volunteers who were bilingual to register at the CARIFESTA Secretariat in order to facilitate non-English speaking delegates who would be attending the Festival.

The Guyana Culture, Youth and Sport Minister also used the opportunity to introduce the Chief Executive Officer of CARIFESTA, Mr Nigel Dharamlall and the Artistic Director Dr Paloma Mohamed who in her presentation, promised a spectacular opening night for CARIFESTA but declined to give details, quipping that "an artist likes to create in private and later unveil for the element of surprise."

"We will have a very spectacular opening ceremony which will be representative of Guyana and the Region not only in an artistic way but in a cultural way to ensure that the social, economic and historical aspects of the Caribbean is showcased," Dr Mohamed affirmed.

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