Haiti has indicated its interest in making a cultural contribution to Carifesta X during its first participation and in its role as the most recent Caricom member state.
According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) press release, Haiti is currently gathering logistical data to inform its role in the festival. Project Officer at the Foreign Community Relations Department at Caricom, Peter Noel, who is also Haitian; Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Dr Frank Anthony; Caricom Human and Social Development Consultant Dr Carole Bishop and representatives of the Carifesta Secretariat visited Region Three to spread the message of the festival.
Noel said that Haiti decided to participate to introduce aspects of its unique culture to the region. He said his government intends to highlight a variety of Haitian craft, music and other performing arts at the festival. Noel said he has observed that there was no knowledge of Haitian music among Guyanese and he felt that Carifesta was the most fitting platform to introduce it. He said he hoped this would foster a greater appreciation of the culture.
Noel sees Haiti’s first participation in Carifesta as a significant achievement that will add to the island’s involvement in all Caricom activities. “I am looking forward to our participation in the festival. I think Carifesta is a good opportunity for all Caribbean countries to show our cultures to the world especially this year’s, which promises to have more countries, some outside of Caricom,” he said.
According to GINA, delegations from Barbados, Anguilla, Dominica, Turks and Caicos Islands, Trinidad and Tobago and Antigua will be attending the August 22 to 31 festival. Austria, Morocco and Indonesia have also indicated an interest in participating.
