Ministry launches Guyana Festival

President Donald Ramotar and Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Irfaan Ali being welcomed by young Guyanese decked out their traditional wear at the launch of the Guyana Festival (GINA photo)

The Ministry of Tourism launched the inaugural Guyana Festival celebrating local music, dance, food and art and craft on Friday with plans in train to host the three-day festival at the Guyana National Stadium from August 8-10.

The event will be marketed in North America and the Caribbean to highlight Guyana’s diverse cultural heritage and its tourism product, a report from the Government Information Agency (GINA) said.

At the opening on Friday, held at the Guyana International Conference Centre, President Donald Ramotar said the festival will demonstrate to the world the advantages of living in a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural society with African, Asian and European influences combining to form a single and unique Guyanese culture.

“When you sit there and enjoy the African and Indian drumming and the fusion dance, we must thank our fore parents for the strength