Over 1,300 overseas representatives from 25 countries participated in the recent Carifesta X activities, according to the Carifesta Secretariat. Meanwhile, more than 15 overseas-based Guyanese residing in Britain, Canada and the United States of America actively took part in the event, which ran from August 22 to 31.
The secretariat said that 3,328 local participants were also involved.
According to the secretariat, representatives from Antigua and Barbuda (138), Bahamas (over 150), Barbados (102), Dominica (17), Grenada (12), Haiti (1), Jamaica (12), Montserrat (20), St Kitts and Nevis (29), St Lucia (26), St Vincent and the Grenadines (35), Suriname (211) and Trinidad and Tobago (200) were all involved in the arts festival. Belize was the only Caricom member-state, which did not participate.
Meanwhile, Austria (7), Brazil (125), the British Virgin Islands (32), the Cayman Islands (20), China (6), Cuba (2), the Dominican Republic (5), India (10), Indonesia (27) and Venezuela (48) also took part in the festival. There was also a group of 21 students from the University of Ohio.
This newspaper was told that the Chinese participated in the film festival, while the delegates from India were involved in both the film and the literary arts segments.
Stabroek News was also informed that the Austrian delegation, which was unable to conduct the much-anticipated laser lights show during the festival, will be returning to do so. The Austrians were expected to produce a computer generated laser show featuring lights of various colours and intensities, which would be used to present messages and beautify the surroundings of St George’s cathedral. When efforts were made to get the show started, an integral piece of equipment was damaged and the show had to be halted. Subsequent efforts to get the show underway before the end of the festival were unsuccessful.
The Austrians, however, have promised to return to conduct the show, but a date for this is still to be confirmed.
