Hosting Carifesta is a blessing

Aug 27, 2008 Features / Columnists

Carifesta opened in a blaze of glory and while there were some hitches, none can deny that Guyana did very well to host the event.

When the preparations were underway for the hosting of Cricket World Cup people criticized. Some argued that Guyana was not capable of the event because of the cost.

The result was the stadium which proved the only venue for such a big occasion. Without the stadium, people would have gone to the National Park, which is grossly inadequate. Then there were the various constructions of hotels and bed and breakfast facilities.

Accommodation was sadly lacking for even the most ordinary events like conventions and international forums. Guyana simply could not host them.

But the critics wagged their tongues and made all manner of comments, more so when the government loaned money toward some of the constructions. They were short sighted.

They did not even consider the employment opportunities that accrued and the benefits to the country both in the short and long term.

We ended up hosting the Commonwealth Finance Ministers Conference, the Rio Summit and the World Cup. Today we are hosting Carifesta and accommodating some 3,000 delegates without a ripple.

However, success breeds enemies and hosting Carifesta, which the Opposition threatened, has bred enemies.

The mere fact that the people came and are having a grand time has caused the opposition to boycott the event.

They seem to have forgotten that Carifesta was Guyana’s brainchild and that its continuance is a legacy to the contribution that this country is making to the regional arts and culture.

Further, in no other country has there been an opposition boycott of Carifesta; each leader and the supporters placed country first, but Guyana has to be different. But as faith would have it, the people have a mind of their own and they are in the swing of things.

They came out in their thousands for the opening ceremony and despite the glitches they are there for the various performances. No politician can deny people the right to enjoy themselves and to entertain their guests.

But for all the successes the critics are pointing to the failures. As with any mega event there are bound to be shortcomings. Things will not always go according to plan.

Even China had its problems during its opening and closing ceremonies and it had twelve years to prepare for the Olympics.

The fact that it used a girl who lip-synched a song because the society felt that the original singer was not pretty enough did not fail to detract from the ceremony.

Then there was the fact that the society prevented the athletes from going wherever they wanted was not even considered important to make the news.

Should that be the case in Guyana the world would not hear the end of this. There would be cries of no democracy and an abuse of citizens’ rights.

At no time could anyone say that they have been denied the freedom to associate with Guyanese in any part of the country. The visitors have also had no complaints about accommodation or the mode of transportation to the various venues.

What the critics need to understand is that Guyana undertook to host Carifesta within one year after the Bahamas declined.

It was a monumental task, made simple by the fact that Guyana had not hosted Carifesta since its inception, and the fact that there was more than ample accommodation and food. But there is more to all this; there is the economic spin-off.

The critics fail to realize that by hosting Carifesta the government has created jobs for thousands. There are the local people who make ornaments which will be gobbled up because people will want a piece of Guyana when they leave.

Clothing in Guyana is cheaper than anywhere in the Caribbean, so our manufacturers will also do well. Taxis and minibuses will earn more and the revenue to the Guyana Revenue Authority will get a boost.

The spin-offs are numerous. Food vendors are benefiting. There was a massive clean-up exercise that will continue long after Carifesta is gone and this is to the good of the people of Guyana.

A certain PPP/Civic Government hater could not help point out that the PPP boycotted the first Carifesta but the people who supported the party also supported Carifesta.

This time around the event is going to be successful and whatever glitches there were will be sorted out if they have not been sorted by now.

President Jagdeo has once again done Guyana good by his leadership. So do not blame the government for being successful.