Latest update November 25th, 2024 1:00 AM

Guyana's largest selling daily and New York's most popular weekly

Latest News

Free tickets policy has caused some headaches

Aug 22, 2008 Editorial

The distribution of free tickets for certain Carifesta events was bound to cause problems. There was bound to be long lines and some problems so long as free tickets were being distributed.

The problems are no fault of those given the Herculean task of sharing out the tickets on a fair basis. The problems that arose on Wednesday are a direct result of the decision to distribute free tickets.

The distribution of free tickets was a misguided approach to ensuring participation. This single decision now threatens to cause logistical problems for the organizers as the festival kicks off.

On Wednesday when free tickets were being distributed, there were long lines on many occasions which must have forced those involved in the distribution process to work overtime and must have also caused a few headaches. These worries are not likely to go away soon.

Free ticket distribution at major cultural festivals is something that is unheard of.
This decision is no doubt inspired by the fear that the festival would be boycotted by sections of the population. Any such boycott is likely to embarrass the country and the government and this apprehension must have influenced the authorities to distribute free tickets so as to encourage mass participation.

Instead of trying to woo participation through free tickets, the government should have assessed the public’s response to the perceived threats.

They should made greater efforts to bring all sections of the Guyanese society on board Carifesta so as to avoid a situation such as we now have where the demand for free tickets is greater than the supply.

The decision to distribute free tickets was misguided since there is now likely to be greater discontent over the distribution process.

Logistically, there will not be enough tickets for everyone, and this is bound to raise some degree of dissatisfaction from those who were not successful in obtaining tickets.

We hope however that the Carifesta Secretariat can deal with the problems that will arise from the policy of free ticket distribution and will be able to put systems in place to ensure that things are smoother henceforth.

We are confident that this can be done. One year ago, Guyana demonstrated that it had the organizational capability to host a major international sporting event, Cricket World Cup 2007.
Carifesta is expected, however, to be a much more challenging undertaking.

For one, it will involve far more activities, spread over the many regions in Guyana, unlike CWC 2007 which was concentrated in Demerara. Carifesta is also likely to attract far more participation and far more persons are likely to be coming from overseas for this festival. 

More importantly Carifesta X involves far more activities and this requires greater organization and work to be successful.

The government of Guyana has so far, from all indications, spent a great deal of funds in preparing for this festival, and the least that was expected was for the eager public to pay even if it is a small sum, some amount of money for entrance into the various events.

Whether the country can afford this free ticket policy will be determined after the festival ends and the overall tab becomes known.

More importantly we hope that this free ticket distribution effort and especially the problems associated with the process will not detract from the more important organization work that needs to be done to ensure that Carifesta X is successfully held in Guyana.

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show | November, 20th, 2024

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Welcome and Sattaur hat-tricks power West Ruimvelt’s emphatic win

Welcome and Sattaur hat-tricks power West Ruimvelt’s emphatic win

Nov 25, 2024

…Chase’s Academic Foundation remains unblemished Kaieteur Sports- Round six of the Republic Bank Under-18 Football League unfolded yesterday at the Ministry of Education ground, featuring...
Read More
Mominul, Jaker help Bangladesh avoid follow on

Mominul, Jaker help Bangladesh avoid follow on

Nov 25, 2024

Rutherford’s stunning century in vain as ‘Spice Man’ steals the show

Rutherford’s stunning century in vain as...

Nov 25, 2024

Bentick’s hat-trick lifts YMCA to $1M and ExxonMobil Futsal C/chip title

Bentick’s hat-trick lifts YMCA to $1M and...

Nov 25, 2024

Final batch of tickets for opening match released

Final batch of tickets for opening match released

Nov 25, 2024

NSC to host National Awards Ceremony on Thursday

NSC to host National Awards Ceremony on Thursday

Nov 25, 2024

Features/Columnists

Publisher’s Note

Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.

Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]