President Martelly of Haiti speaking at the Grand Opening of Carifesta XII in Port Au Prince declared that there are two Haitis: “the Haiti that CNN talks about and the Haiti that we know.” The curtains will come down to close the Twelfth Caribbean Festival of the Arts this evening at the Kiosk – a version of the Greek styled open air auditorium – and by this time different faces of the host country will have uncovered themselves.
These might not necessarily be what the President meant, but they are quite contrasting images that emerged during the performances of the festival. These are perceptions of the country held by its Caricom neighbours; a stark reality that might have shocked the uninitiated, or confirmed some perceptions; a first-hand revelation of the arts of Haiti; and the popular response to the performing arts and to Carifesta as a whole.
One predominant feature of Carifesta XII has been the way it has been dominated by attention to the host country.
