Press release 261/2008
(23 August 2008)

• His Excellency Bharrat Jagdeo, President of the Republic of Guyana
• His Excellency Runaldo Venetiaan, President of the Republic of Suriname and Lead Head for Community Development and Cultural Cooperation (including Culture, Gender, Youth and Sport) within the Community
• Hon. Baldwin Spencer, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda and Chairman of the CARICOM Heads of Government
• Dr. the Hon. Ralph Gonsalves, Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Mrs. Gonsalves
• The Hon. Samuel Hinds, Prime Minister of the Republic of Guyana, and Mrs. Hinds
• The Hon. Dr. Frank Anthony, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport and with special responsibility for CARIFESTA X, and Mrs. Anthony
• Other Ministers of Government, national and visiting
• Members of the Diplomatic Corps
• Delegations of Officials and Artists from Member States and other visiting delegations  Members of the Interim Festival Directorate of CARIFESTA
• Other members of the Artistic Community
• Distinguished guests
• Representatives of the Media
• Ladies and Gentlemen – people of the Caribbean
• Friends, Well-wishers, All

CARIFESTA X is finally here! And what a special moment, place and time for all of us who have today, 22 August 2008, gathered in Guyana, throughout the Caribbean Community and beyond, to participate in the Opening Ceremony of this historic cultural event.

This magical evening, the rain notwithstanding, this wonderful atmosphere that we are experiencing, comes against the backdrop of a special moment in our history as a Region. That moment was 36 years ago when on 25 August 1972, this country, Guyana, gave birth to the Caribbean Festival of Arts (CARIFESTA). That first CARIFESTA ran from 25 August to 15 September 1972 and it was a most delightful experience. I know; I was there.

CARIFESTA’s return today to Guyana, gives me, as Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community, a special pleasure. I wish to congratulate and thank the President, His Excellency Bharrat Jagdeo, and the Government and People of Guyana, for their tremendous effort, in putting in place the arrangements to host this premier regional Festival of the Arts, in just one year – I know it was one year because the decision so to do, was only taken around July last year. We appreciate the huge undertaking that this achievement represents. I am also pleased to join with the Government of Guyana, in welcoming the many Heads of Government, Ministers and other Governmental Officials from the Member States and Associate Members of the Caribbean Community who are gracing the Festival with their presence; also to welcome the many delegations of artists and cultural ambassadors; representatives from our Caribbean Diaspora and indeed all visitors generally. We are happy that you have all come to witness, share and to enjoy this display of talents and expertise, out of which we look forward to creating new CARIFESTA memories, over the next ten days. CARIFESTA and our cooperation in culture generally, is an important part of the foundation of our regional movement, where our artists have led the way in giving expression to our richest cultural traditions; they have celebrated our diversity and our Caribbean identity and they have taught us through their work, to love and appreciate who we are. This year, as the Caribbean Community celebrates the thirty-fifth anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Chaguaramas in 1973, when we embarked on this bold mission to build a strong Caribbean Community, we recognize the important role of culture and CARIFESTA in creating and in strengthening the CARICOM family. And looking to the future, we see this Festival and the development of our cultural industries as integral to any master plan to create a Caribbean Community for All and a brighter future for all our people.

CARIFESTA has also played an important role in projecting our culture on to the world stage, which has brought international recognition and respect for our small Region as a civilization with strong cultural roots and expressions. Nowhere has this recognition been more to the fore than in the exploits of our sportsmen and women, be it in cricket or athletics as we are currently witnessing at the 29th Olympiad in Beijing.

Let us therefore draw inspiration from this moment from the magnificent display of our young men and women in Beijing 2008, as we seek as a Community to lift the profile of our Caribbean Festival of Arts and make it a truly international event. I urge us all, let us be energized by this moment in history to invest in stimulating and promoting our artists, our culture and our cultural institutions.

And now, as I close, ladies and gentlemen let us enjoy CARIFESTA X. Enjoy the richness and texture of the diverse CARIFESTA X programme. Let us appreciate and revel in this special moment, this special place and special time, when over the next 10 days, together we will write another chapter in the history of this great cultural event ensuring:

One Caribbean; One Purpose Our Culture; Our Life!

I thank you!

CONTACT: piu@caricom.org