Infrastructural improvement moving apace for Carifesta

Jun 07, 2008 News

Even as the monetary cost of preparing sections of the country for Carifesta is being addressed, plans are moving apace to ensure that all is ready for Guyana’s hosting of the festival of arts in August.

This notion was emphasised yesterday at the weekly Carifesta press briefing at the Carifesta Middle Street Secretariat.
At the forum which was addressed by Minister of Culture Youth and Sport, Dr Frank Anthony, and Minister of Transport and Hydraulics, Mr Robeson Benn, it was divulged that although there may be some additional cost factors due to the pressure of the current rainy season which increases weeds growth rate, arrangements are being put in place.
Addressing ongoing infrastructural development works, Minister Benn related that works with respect to the National Park and the Sophia Exhibition Site are in progress.
At the National Park, he said, the Transport Ministry is working with the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, even as he noted that repairs on several stands have already commenced.
Minister Benn disclosed, too, that currently filling works are ongoing at the Sophia site with respect the Amerindian village which has been constructed there.
As part of the planned works a new access way is being built at the site, Minister Benn said, adding that beyond such works there will be reliance on routine maintenance and other infrastructural works.
And since the hosting of Carifesta will have a wider geographic spread in terms of activities when compared to Cricket World Cup, Minister Benn said that parking areas as well as unrestricted vending will have to be addressed.
He said that a committee including officials from the Local Government Ministry, City Hall and the Police Force will be formulated to foster rapid improvement.
It was noted though that the while the works are geared at Carifesta the improvement is intended to be long term, which is seen as necessary in the city and other parts of the country.
The Minister said that there has been collaboration with the Local Government Ministry in several areas to bring order to markets. Efforts were recently made to put the Mon Repos Market in order by placing the vendors in a tarmac setting.
Other markets to be addressed, he said, are those at Plaisance, Rosignol and Vreed-en-Hoop with the hope of standardising stalls and having them cleared after trading.
This move is imperative, the Minister said, since there are issues such as vendors selling certain products such as meat without the requisite permits and at many facilities there is the absence of proper sanitary facilities.
But even as the issue of money and costing is being worked out in order to bring back general order, the Minister anticipates that there will be some problems.
According to him, there are some people who are more desirous of continuing the practice of lawless behaviour rather than encouraging order.
The Minister further noted that some sections of the media have not been helpful with such matters since they are often portrayed in an adversarial way, failing to obligate to the commitment towards promoting good order and decency.
Minister Anthony related that to date 25 countries have confirmed participation but noted that all have not yet indicated the size of their contingent or who will be doing what.
They, however, have June 15 as the deadline to make such arrangements, the Minister asserted.
He shared that with regards to accommodation a survey of the different hotels in the city and its environs has been conducted. Some may need to be upgraded.
And according to him, already 11 of the expected countries have booked accommodation in some of the facilities, noting that they have taken up more than 331 rooms in facilities that have the capacity of holding 819 persons.
According to the Minister, he is very pleased that at such an early stage rooms have been booked for the delegations, adding that every day the hotels are getting calls for bookings.
He also noted that the although there are some 25 bed and breakfast properties with 78 rooms that can accommodate 156 persons other offers of such accommodations can be brought to the attention of the Tourism Authority which is responsible for coordinating this aspect of the accommodations.
The Minister disclosed that there is still a need for additional transportation to help with the transporting of artistes during the hosting of the event. He urged that more volunteers come on board, especially people who are versed in speaking more than one language.

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Infrastructural improvement moving apace for Carifesta

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