PORT-OF-SPAIN, TRINIDAD & TOBAGO – “The workshop has been a tremendous success. It was very well attended, having brought together a diverse group of stakeholders in the regional creative industries. Importantly, this unique forum has enabled them to conceptualize and outline the interests of the industries, and identify how they can be brought forward to the negotiating table as regards the region’s external trade negotiations effort.” This was the view of Mr. Ian Randle, a participant in the forum and President of the Jamaica-based Ian Randle Publishers Ltd.
Culture
The Region should expect a breath of new life and meaning, to the Region's premiere cultural festival, CARIFESTA, when a special meeting of the Council for Human and Social Development [COHSOD] on Culture is convened next week.
The two-day meeting scheduled for June 2-3 will take place in Georgetown, Guyana where a strategic plan for the reorganisation of CARIFESTA drafted at the first meeting of the CARICOM Task Force on CARIFESTA in Trinidad in March will lead the discussions on the way forward.
Salutations_
The juncture of the celebration of CARIFESTA VIII here in Suriname, and the 30th Anniversary year of the Caribbean Community, is an ideal time for the CARICOM Secretariat and our private sector partner, TELESUR to join resources in exploring the rich potential of mind, technology and the impact on art and culture in the Caribbean. Certainly, there is no better time and no more suitable place for this event to be taking place.
Your Excellency the President of Suriname and Mrs Venetiaan-Vanenburg
The Vice-President of Suriname
Speaker of the National Assembly
Honourable Ministers
Members of the Diplomatic Corps
Distinguished Artists
Participants
Members of the Media
Ladies and Gentlemen
It is my pleasure to bring you greetings on behalf of the Secretary-General and staff of the Caribbean Community Secretariat and indeed the entire CARICOM family.
SALUTATIONS!
I am proud today as Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community to welcome you all to CARIFESTA VIII in Suriname. This pride is heightened by the fact that this is the first time since my assumption of office in 1992 that this major Community event is being held in a non-English speaking country. Indeed it is only the second time in its 31-year history that CARIFESTA is being staged outside the English speaking Caribbean, having been held in Cuba in 1979.
When CARIFESTA VIII – the Caribbean’s premier cultural event - winds down on August 30th in Suriname, organisers hope they would have found the answer to one of the most important questions_ “where do we go from here.”
CARIFESTA is returning to the mainland in August 2003, in a year when both host country –Suriname- and its CARICOM sister states have a lot to commemorate - CARICOM marked its 30th anniversary and Suriname commemorated the 140th anniversary of slavery abolishment, 150 years of Chinese immigration, 130 years of Indian immigration and 115 years of Indonesian immigration, the cultural richness of the Caribbean will fall in the spotlight.
Five regional artists have been selected to display their work in a special exhibition in honour of the Arts to be held at the Presidential Palace in Paramaribo, Suriname during CARIFESTA VIII scheduled for 24-30 August 2003 in that CARICOM Member State.
Hundreds of dancers, artists, musicians, actors and cultural exponents, representing these countries are set to entertain visitors during the gala event which has been described as the “Greatest Cultural Mix of All Time”.
One of the most important features of CARIFESTA VIII will be the Grand Market, in which all participating countries will have an opportunity to showcase their respective art and craft traditions.