Dear Editor,
In August of 2008 the people of Guyana will once again be given the opportunity to host the Caribbean Festival of Creative Arts (Carifesta). This festival was born in Guyana in 1972. Even though I believe we should have been given more time to prepare so that we can present the best festival ever, I still believe that if we put our best foot forward and tap the best available human resources we can still pull the festival off with flying colours.
I’m a bit disappointed that a comprehensive plan has not been presented to the public.
From time to time you hear about persons being on the organizing committee and that this venue and that venue will be used for activities, but there is no comprehensive plan.
A festival such as Carifesta should involve every sector of society; there must be consultation among all political parties, local organizations, youth groups, regional councils, municipalities and of course the business community. With such broad-based consultation everyone will feel involved in the preparation for Carifesta. After such consultation we must go out into the regions and seek new and unexposed talents, for our country has an abundance of hidden talents that need to be exposed.
We must find new talent and blend it in with the talent that we have already discovered and present to the world a diverse Guyanese culture.
We must seek new ideas and develop new programmes for Carifesta 2008. Now is the time for us to start preparing our masquerade bands and our stilt bands. It is my hope that we can see the creation of a national steel band consisting of no less than one hundred of our best pan players.
It is my idea also that we come up with a national drumming group; we must play the tassa drums and the African drums. Our schoolchildren must not be left out of Carifesta; is there any consultation with our schools? If not let us start telling our children about Carifesta. We must educate them on the history of Carifesta and let them know what it is all about, because I’m quite confident that many of them have no clue about it. Let us show them on TV, videos of past Carifestas.
Persons who served during Carifesta 1972 should be given the opportunity to play a role once again; if not actively involved they can be consulted for advice.
I know that the people of Festival City would be under focus during Carifesta 2008, for this community was built for participants in the 1972 Carifesta. I hope that the 2008 National Budget would cater for the enhancement of this community and I hope that the people of Festival City would play their part. The Ministry of Culture Youth and Sports must be very busy with their hands full organizing Mashramani 2008 and Carifesta 2008.
I wish them well, I would urge all Guyanese to chip in their bit to make Carifesta 2008 in Guyana the best there ever was.
Yours faithfully,
Clive Fredericks
