It has been 47 years since the Caribbean Festival of the Arts (Carifesta) was first hosted in Guyana. It was the late L.F.S Burnham who spearheaded the formation of Carifesta, which was created to foster Caribbean unity and to showcase the talents, skills and visions of creatives,
Regardless of personal feelings about Burnham and his assumed or proven transgressions, Carifesta is just one example that proves not only that he was a visionary, but that he appreciated arts and culture. Perhaps if the leaders who came after him were as passionate about that which manifests the essence and character of any society, the arts in Guyana would be more highly regarded and therefore the environment would be more enabling to aid in the development and success of the arts.
Since Carifesta 1972, other Caribbean territories have hosted the festival and this year the 14th festival was held in Trinidad and Tobago, which has hosted it four times.
