The Suriname National Organising Committee has announced that the whole month of August will be dedicated to the celebration of Arts and Culture in the Caribbean. The Dutch republic will play host to the eighth CARIFESTA, which will be officially opened on 24th August in the capital, Paramaribo, and continuing for a period of seven days.
The CARIFESTA Committee has confirmed that plans are well underway to ensure a “unique” celebration of CARIFESTA.
Third Lecture in the Distinguished Lecture Series Sponsored by CARICOM to Commemorate Its Thirtieth Anniversary Presented On the Occasion of the Eighth Meeting of the Council for Human and Social Development, Paramaribo, Suriname April 24-26, 2003
PREFACE
The Region has been promised a cultural feast when the five-day celebrations of CARIFESTA VIII are hosted in Suriname
At a special launching ceremony held in Georgetown Friday last, a Suriname delegation led by Minister of Education and Community Development, Hon. Walter Sandriman unveiled the CARIFESTA logo, announced the slogan and released the jingle for what promises to be a most unique cultural blast, full of energy and diversity. Minister Sandriman called for support from all CARICOM Member States to ensure the success of the festival.
The Eighth Caribbean Festival for the Creative Arts (CARIFESTA) will be held in Suriname during the second half of next year. The host country, which holds the regional quasi-cabinet portfolio for Culture is going all out to ensure the success of the Festival scheduled for 25-30 August 2003.
Preparations for the historic Caribbean Trade, Tourism and Cultural Fair billed to run for four days in Tokyo, Japan next year, moved into high gear with the Region's processed food and beverage manufacturers, and the public and private sectors getting ready for what promises to be a grand Caribbean exposition.
The Caribbean exposition is mooted as the stepping stone to opening-up new avenues of CARICOM/Japan Cooperation, stimulating trade and investment opportunities between this Region and Japan.
One hundred and sixty three years after the proclamation of emancipation in 1838, the struggle continues for the descendants of African slaves as they seek to claim their rightful space in a world still rife with racial discrimination and prejudice. All of us who inhabit these lands, regardless of race or creed, have had to surmount various trials and ordeals in our endeavour to break free of the many prejudices which still threaten our efforts at securing our future.
Chair person of the CARIFESTA Marketing and Promotions Committee Christine Walwyn says she expects that "vibrations" from the successful "Taste of CARIFESTA" event to be a catalyst that will launch the Caribbean and the world into ten days of a cultural extravaganza called CARIFESTA.
With CNN here to provide coverage, the Sunday afternoon event was organised specifically to provide the rest of the world with a sample of CARIFESTA scheduled for August 17-26.
The high level of energy and resourcefulness being put into CARIFESTA VII preparations is indicative of the competence and tenacity of host country St. Kitts and Nevis. Residents of the sister islands are giving real meaning to the catch phrase two "mini isles with maxi potential."
The issue of accommodation for the thousands who will attend CARIFESTA functions, as well as the artistes who will perform and exhibit their goods, is one area in which the CARIFESTA Committee is putting innovation and creativity into action.
With August just a few months away the CARIFESTA VII spirit has encompassed the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis. Response from the Wider Caribbean Region and the international community is also being felt on a large scale as the Committee is bombarded with input.
The CARIFFESTA Marketing Committee chairperson, Christine Walwyn has also attributed the general exuberance surrounding CARIFESTA to the "New Millennium Fever" which she said has "spilled over" into CARIFESTA VII preparations. The year 2000 therefore has special significance.
As preparations for the staging of the Seventh Caribbean Festival of Creative Arts (CARIFESTA), scheduled for August in St. Kitts and Nevis, gains momentum across the region, the Regional Cultural Committee (RCC) is expected to give priority attention to the status of these preparations when they meet for two days later this month in Tortola, British Virgin Islands.