Over 500,000 attended events
It was supposed to have been a toned-down version of the opening of Carifesta X, offering up a mix of the artistry showcased at the festival and an official handover to The Bahamas but Guyana’s closing ceremony yesterday exploded into a vibrant celebration of local and regional culture.
Carifesta X ended after ten days on a high of spirited performances, good weather and better coordinated sequences. It was the dazzling opening that was promised; only more than a week too late, and as Guyana bowed out The Bahamas ably stepped in giving a taste of what is to come in 2010 when they host the festivities.
It was party time after the fireworks display last night. (Jules Gibson photo)
The Bahamas accepted formally in the person of their Minister of Culture, Charles Maynard, but they actually took over when a slice of the Bahamian festival of Junkanoo hit the National Stadium at Providence. The rich colour and unique sounds of the festival never made it to the Sophia exhibition site as promised but Providence just seemed a more fitting stage.
Junkanoo fever gripped the stadium when the Bahamians burst onto the ground flouncing and sounding their cow bells and trumpets. They paraded around for a while whetting appetites across the region ahead of the next festival.
But Carifesta’s close was really a moment of reflection of what had unfolded on local soil over the past few days. It was about the people like those unforgettable drummers from Suriname who played with rare passion even when the rain was pounding the stadium on opening day and burying all hopes for a successful start to the festival.
It was also about the Antiguans; the Trinidadians; Barba-dians; Dominicans; Kittians etc. who came to Guyana and faithfully contributed to Carifesta X, even putting on a smile when schedules and venues got mixed up among other things. It was really about their deserving send off and they got it.
One of the highlights of the Bahamian Junkanoo performance.
With the weight of a deflated opening on its shoulders Guyana came out prepared yesterday and executed. From the Guyana Defence Force parachuters jumping some 3,000 feet from above the ground to kick things off to beautifully choreographed dancers from the National School of Dance heating up the stage, everything just fell into place.
There were noticeably less local performers and that appeared to have worked well as far the dance sequences went – the performances were tighter and easier to follow- they also looked more stunning. There was also a better sound system and finally everyone in the stadium could hear repeat hosts Ron Robinson and Bobby Vieira.
As if anticipating that the weather could again ruin the proceedings the organizers were punctual, in fact, a few minutes early. The GDF jumpers wasted no time in leaping from their craft and free falling, and it was not long before that the crowd was eating up everything they were dishing out.
There were a few fillers before the programme began in earnest but performances flowed one after the other. There were hardly any glitches and the visiting delegations all seemed pumped up throughout the proceedings though Dominica initially felt dejected after not seeing their name on the programme of countries to give a performance finale. It turns out that it was an inadvertent omission.
“We are going on”, the Dominicans said after being informed that they are on the programme; what a moment it was for them and those witnessing it.
The curtains came down on Carifesta X with much glitz. There were quiet yet impacting moments such as when Barbados’ poet Adrian Green recited in dub poetry style a piece reflective of the festival this year and the role Guyana played.
One of the parachute jumpers from the Guyana Defence Force about to land safely at yesterday’s closing ceremony at the National Stadium.
Fireworks went off as expected but the real display was actually happening on the ground where Guyana and the participating countries mingled in fine style. It was a kaleidoscope of colour and raw, infectious energy.
Guyana did itself proud – Jagdeo
President Bharrat Jagdeo told those gathered at the National Stadium that Guyana did itself proud in hosting the festival.
He said that “as a nation we rose to the occasion, we did ourselves proud.” He stated that based on statistics received from the Carifesta Secretariat, more than 500,000 people had attended the various activities held across the country over the duration of the 10-day festival. President Jagdeo added that the country had seen over 3, 500 persons participate in the performing, visual and culinary arts during the event.
He added that the festival celebrated the rich cultural diversity of the region, which he identified as being a very distinct and powerful force. In highlighting some of the positive traits of Carifesta, President Jagdeo stated that the festival presented young artists with the opportunity to interact with some of the best artists in the region. He went on to underscore the importance of the arts in nation building.
The Head of State expressed special gratitude to the foreign delegations for their participation and said that they had represented both themselves and their countries well. He also commended the local organisers of the event, saying that the festival bears testimony to the fact that by working together, great things could be achieved in the country.
Earlier in the evening, Charles Maynard, the Bahamian Minister of Culture, stated that Guyana had taken the Carifesta movement to another level. He commended the government and the people of Guyana on hosting an outstanding festival and singled out the liaison officers for special praise. He also expressed gratitude to the government for willingly agreeing to take over the responsibility of hosting this year’s Carifesta after the Bahamian government decided that it would not have been able to host the festival. He confirmed that the Bahamas will be ready to host Carifesta XI in 2010.
The Minister was speaking after collecting the special Carifesta Scroll from Guyana’s Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony. Before handing over the scroll, Dr. Anthony read its contents. This included information on the vision behind Carifesta and some of the history of the festival.
yes we try but we cood have don more to put our country on the map.Let us put our pass and striv for a beter guyana baing back the old days for e.g mars game we need our mash to be like when the late Forbes was alive 11 thousand strong get the minestrys involve and privite secter too look i am living out of my country for 14 years and never go back for mash or easter why it is not like before i goes for xms every year yes i now the crime had a part to play but we can still try i am willing to help i was the # 1 prompter for may pole in victoria i will love to come back give us some hope to make guyana grate if only we corapeate please help us hear our cry .live in t.tobago.
Shawn keep quiet…..what did u do tohelp with carifesta?……did u even attend the
festival?….u all tha way in foreign and u criticizing guyana…u don ran away from
guyana for 14 years so dont even talk.
shawn u must learn to give credit where credit is due. Guyana tried irrespective out limitations.
where i think we went wrong is not giving credit to the founder of carifesta Burnham who incidently hails from Guyana and should have added reason for us to be proud.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S G U Y A N A !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Carifesta X was a smash hit. Now let’s work on building our nation even better
ONE PEOPLE ONE NATION ONE DESTINY
This country got potential.We got a president with potential.
potential potential potential.The main opposition party needs to get their act together and cooperate.
Since I born I hearing this! This is a country with potential, it’s people have potential rarara…… Any idea when we will begin to realise some of that potential? Potential means nothing unless it is used for something!
Nips you are a 100% correct.
shawn bai is dirty politics causing all the problems in guyana, they dont want
to admitt that is MR. L F S BURNHAM idea for hosting the first carifesta in
guyana but the people of the carribean and the world knows is L F S
BURNHAM the brain child of this great event they cant hide this under the rug.
LONG LIVE THE P N C AND MR. L F S BURNHAM MEMORIES…
someone, somewhere, somehow and at sometime has to introduce something before it actually happen or exists….that dosent mean that burnham is to be honoured for launching the carifesta………whose idea was it to bridge the demerara river?certainly not burnham….its an idea that he stole and put into reality…..the model was on display at vreed en hoop stelling before burnham came into power..dont you know your history?
you are talking nonsense……you think backwards that is why you always have a critical comment for any good thing that happens in guyana
Torbo my hat off to you. Indeed Carifesta was the brain child of the First Executive President of Guyana Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham. Not once that the organisers of this year Carifesta had mention Burnham for his idea and vision for having hosting Carifesta in Guyana. How can any one erase history?
The PNCR did not objected holding Carifesta – but what the PNC was mainly pointing out to the Government that their are more important matters at the time that affecting the country and need to be address.
Now that Carifesta is over and it was a success I do hope that the government will focus and address the problem that is affecting the country like the VAT and many more.
“…the success of the event…” is how Frederick Kissoon described Carifesta X in his KN column yesterday. However, rather than being jubilant and proud, he suspects the government will bully its way through parliament and become more “arrogant”. With a mind like his, that’s to be expected. Congratulations to the government and people of Guyana for a job well done!
Freddie Kissoon is not only anti govt anti indian he is anti guyanese and anti everything nobody takes him seriously
I must admit, that these photos look very colorful and if the organizers say Carefesta X was a success then congratulations to all involved ’cause the calypso spirit of the Caribbean people lives on.
One observation here:… It says over 500,000 attended?….What’s the population of Guyana again?
……. there were visitors ,, and all who attended by aggregate,, totaled what ever they said …… rithmatic and reasoning lil difficult fuh some ahwe….
is it at all possible for us to be supportive of anything that is G’nese in origin !…..
besides that which is dragging us down de abyss…..
If one person attends ten events, that’s counted as ten attendees/persons.
inreplyto the abovecomment,coolieboy,i dont think that freddie kissoon is anti guyanese, freddie just speaks his mind , cant get mad at that,can u?
Hundreds of thousands of Guyanese migrated to the USA and other parts of the world to escape the Burnham dictatorship; food and fuel shortages, blackmarketing, starvation, malnutrition, racial and political discrimination, political assassination and murder, rigged elections, repression of private business and farmers, repression of the press, mismanagement, corruption etc.
Carifesta, then like now, remains peripheral to the greater economic and democratic needs and aspirations of Guyanese and the Caribbean community.
Despite the publicity and propaganda, the undemocratic burnham regime got out of this event; Burnham’s reign remains one of the darkest periods in Guyana’s and Carifesta’s history.
This is the only comment pertaining to this topic that makes any sense. Burnham may have done some good for Guyana, but it is overshadowed by the bad he did. Those who portray him as a founding father or great leader, in my opinion and note I said in my opinion, appear to make their comments based on rote. I don’t condone Jagdeo either. Guyana doesn’t need Carifesta now, maybe later. Guyana needs to move forward, make it easier for local business to do business, allow foreign investment to come in without all the red tape/bribery/stupidity. Guyana will not get better overnight, but by starting now and doing things in a common sense way, it will be better for the generation that is growing up now. I know I will get attacked for these comments but I am neither a pessimist nor an armchair politician, I just have a realistic view of what is going on. I live overseas and would gladly assist the country of my birth if I could. I however would refuse to do it as long as stupidity and corruption runs rampant. My heart goes out to the children of Guyana.
Light,you are still in darkness ,what about those who left and are still leaving even though Burnham is dead? why and who are they running from?
Nothing in the above should be interpreted as an excuse for the ineptitude, corruption, arrogance or authoritarian methods of governance etc; by the present administration.