The Carifesta Secretariat says the Guyanese diaspora, a number of Caricom states and others further afield including Austria have indicated their interest in participating in the fete.

In a press release the Secretariat said in addition to Brazil and Venezuela, Austria and groups and individuals in Haiti, Puerto Rico, Britain, the USA, Ghana, Kenya and Nigeria have indicated their interest in Carifesta X. According to the release though many Caricom countries have pledged their participation in principle some are awaiting their government’s budgetary provisions before finalising their confirmation and the scope and nature of their participation.

Meanwhile, Austria has already registered and confirmed its participation in the Visual Arts and symposia. Mexico will provide details about its participation shortly. The Guyanese Diaspora in the UK and Canada has also been mobilised through the Carifesta X Chapters established in various cities in those countries.

The Secretariat said so far Guyanese Americans have planned to return for the festival and will contribute “some specific lasting community project.”

The Secretariat said UK based Guyanese writer and academic David Dabydeen is the festival’s personality behind a literary coup for the fete. He has persuaded the Caribbean’s celebrated Nobel Prize Winner Derek Walcott to participate. A popular actress from the American serial “The Young and the Restless” has also expressed interest in participating at the festival.