Everything going as planned for Carifesta X

Jun 28, 2008 News

Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, Frank Anthony, explained in detail, yesterday, that everything is going as planned for Carifesta X. The Carifesta Secretariat is now working at full pace, the Minister explained, as Carifesta X draws closer.
In terms of the venues that will host the Carifesta X celebrations, the Minister explained that numerous areas in and around Georgetown have been ‘spruced up’ in the anticipation of the upcoming festival of arts.
More specifically, the Minister pointed to rehabilitation work that has been done to the National Park, where the stands have been rehabilitated, new sanitary blocks added, security lighting installed, and the tarmac resurfaced.
The Sophia Exhibition Site will have rehabilitation work done to the main auditorium and in approximately two weeks, the work where the culinary fair will be held will be finished, as will the Amerindian Village in time for Carifesta. A new entrance and exit is being introduced on Dennis Street, South Sophia.
Meanwhile, the National Gymnasium has been cleaned and repainted and within two to three weeks, the lights will be changed. The Cliff Anderson Sports Hall will also have its lights changed. At the Providence Stadium, lighting towers have been installed and the finishing touches are being added to the lighting system.
Also included in the ‘sprucing up’ are the regional venues. The Minister noted that the Carifesta X Secretariat has already met with the Regional Chairmen of the different regions, and he said that the regional locations would have all the requirements needed to host an international festival.
The Minister explained that in Georgetown, there are approximately 52 hotels. Within these hotels are offered 3,159 beds. “Things are moving favourably along,” said the Minister, as he explained that 14 countries have made their bookings, taking up some 1190 beds. The Carifesta X Secretariat expects the remaining countries to make their bookings soon.
Measures to provide transportation for the incoming delegations have been put in place. Training will commence in early August for the drivers of vehicles selected to transport the delegations.

The Transportation Committee is working out a specific route to and from the different Carifesta X venues.
Minister Anthony went on to highlight the different measures that have been put in place for health for the festival. He said that there will be an Epidemic Surveillance Unit in place to monitor epidemic risks.

Restaurants and food handlers will also require certification, the Minister noted. And there will be health teams and ambulances standing by at the major Carifesta X venues.
While no health problems are expected, the Minister said that these things would still be put in place, in case of any emergencies or health risks.
The Minister shortlisted a few of the events that can be expected at Carifesta X, including a book fair, a film festival and a visual arts exhibition, among others. A Carifesta X Recipe Book will also be published to go hand in hand with the culinary aspect of the festival.
He explained that other countries have signalled their participation in these events. Carifesta X will be attracting a few notable persons from overseas including Derek Walcott, George Lamming, Rex Nettleford and others.
Minister Anthony said that a lot of advertising was being done overseas. He noted that he had just returned from a trip to both Canada and New York, where he was promoting the Caribbean Festival of Arts. He reported a good response from the media houses in North America.
“We witnessed a few of the performances that they are likely to bring,” said the Minister, as he explained that he had met with the delegation from Canada that was supposed to come to Guyana for Carifesta X.
Meanwhile, the Minister said that the recent travel advisory put out by the Canadian Foreign Affairs Department that warned Canadians travelling to Guyana should exercise “a high degree of caution at all times,” did not seem to deter the promotional activities of Carifesta X in Canada.