Some of us overseas-based CARIFESTA supporters want more specifics

Jul 22, 2008 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,
As a supporter and lover of the Arts, I am particularly proud and supportive of the upcoming celebration of Arts (CARIFESTA) to be held in Guyana in August.

I am an overseas-based Guyanese, and I plan on being in Guyana. But, the lack of specific information available on CARIFESTA events is causing me some very practical reasons for concern.

There’s an entire website dedicated to providing information on CARIFESTA, and at this point (about a month away from the start of the festival) one would think there’d be a schedule of events posted there.
There is none! Don’t the planners know at this stage what’s happening when?

I wrote the Secretariat asking for more specific information, and received the following standard brush-off:
“Thank You. We will reply to your message as soon as possible.” So I decided to pen my concerns elsewhere. Here are some of them:

I would like to know, for instance, who are the writers launching books (I hear quite a few of them will be doing so), and when and where will those launchings take place? Shouldn’t there be some publicity around those books and authors?

Is there? If so, please point me to what’s being said about whom. This CARIFESTA-supporting book lover would certainly like to know.

There is also very little specific information on film events, theatre events, and one of the festival’s main attractions — Mr. Derek Walcott. When and where will he be reading, talking, ranting, or whatever he chooses to do? Tell us, please.

Now, as I said, my questions come from a very practical place of concern. If I am to shell out my hard-earned money for the astronomical airfare to Guyana (the much-touted Delta Airlines is offering fares well over US$1,500, and that’s before taxes), then I’d at least like to know that I’ll get to see Derek Walcott.

And, despite Delta Airlines’ claim that, at this point, they have no plan to implement a fee for checked baggage, they may eventually decide to follow that trend.

To avoid an unpleasant surprise at the airport, I’m planning on taking just one carry-on. Of course, that means I have to pack economically. So I need to know how to pack for the events planned for CARIFESTA.

Do I need to pack for casual, come-as-you-like events, or should I pack for well-organised dressier affairs?
These are all very practical concerns, you see.

I, therefore, again ask the CARIFESTA Planning Committee (via this media) that they give us some indication that the planning for CARIFESTA is going well, and help us hard-working overseas supporters prepare accordingly by supplying us with details of what’s taking place where and when.
Charmaine Valere

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