By A.A. Fenty
Just as I decided to repeat a few facts and statistics about the economics of Carifesta (s), I came across a piece written a few months ago by an old friend, international correspondent Bert Wilkinson. So I’ll merge the thoughts and the issues, okay? But what are they?
As I stated above I’m going to quote from “Carifesta Plans and Statistics to show the challenges and potential of hosting such festivals – virtual public entertainment mega – expositions – and then point to the rapidly rising importance of what is being referred to as Cultural/creative industries
Dr Keith Nurse who produced the “Re-Inventing of Carifesta” in June 2004, the inevitable “Strategic Plan” has some interesting and informative stats in his proposals prepared for the Caricom Secretariat’s taskforce on Carifesta.
Nurse points out that the attendance at the festivals by official delegations, since a peak of 3,500 in Cuba has dropped significantly (Guyana and Cuba, with UNESCO’s help, had covered all the accommodation for visiting delegations!)
Changes in policy and procedures later saw smaller territories with challenged economies hosting the event – St Kitts-Nevis (2000), Suriname (2003). Nurse, says that those governments recorded budgets of just over $2M (US) and US$750,000.00 (Suriname). Repeatedly, Nurse laments the challenge facing these festivals “is selling the viability and economic contribution of the festivals to its various stake-holders, especially regional governments which would host them.
Visitor arrivals for the past festivals – excluding participants – festival –related activities and merchandising, as well as benefits – over two week-ends – to the wider economy of the host(s) such as hospitality sectors, meals, transportation, consumer spending (shopping), taxes/duties, can mean a huge economic impact in that host country. If properly marketed and managed.
Carifesta as business….
To me it is a fact that host governments in the past have not even really sat down, board-room style, before Festival Opening to plan and project in terms of expenditures, incomes and longer-term benefits. I mean with the intensity of marketing and selling an economic enterprise, with the assistance of actual economists and other financial advisers. I suspect that host Guyana is trying its best to do this. If so, I hope they are spending this period “profitably.”
Nurse points out that “the festival and event business is an expanding sector of the global economy” as evidenced by the growth of cultural tourism and attendant industries. Who or where in Guyana right now is crafting any cultural, long lasting programme to attract overseas people to our heritage and traditions? Could not this Carifesta inspire such?
I know that the “more Caribbean” of the Caricom governments have indeed been “investing in events and festivals as a means of promoting destinations and improving the competitiveness of their tourism and cultural industry sectors.” Also, Nurse points out, investing in the arts is not often given priority unless tangible returns are obvious.
So as we here prepare to host what is being touted as the “biggest/largest – most memorable” Carifesta, we need to bear in mind that there can indeed be numerous economic spin-offs for us if we spend a portion of planning on the economics.
We must, for example, realize that there is an expanding festival market in these parts and that Diaspora and intra-regional tourism are fast growing components of the travel and tourism markets. Can Minister Prashad declare his ministry’s plans for Carifesta? Now!? There are many single – event festivals but none as composite as Carifesta so any host government with foresight and host-friendly capabilities should be able to cash in.
Music, songs, sugar bananas
The Bert Wilkinson piece re-visited the related issue born out of the fact that “Caribbean arts and popular culture have now achieved popular acclaim. From Marley’s Reggae and Eddy Grant’s Ringbang (?) to Vidia Naipaul and Rihanna, we are now known. From steel pan to the beaches and rain-forests which inspire art and anthologies, we have something to show and sell the world.
But when one talks of cultural/creative industries, one has to think far and wide. You’re talking Media/Applied arts (audio-visuals, graphics, animation, photography, glamour, fashion publishing). You’re talking – hopefully promoting and actually selling Heritage and Festival Tourism with the attendant hospitality sectors – from entertainment to cuisine.
Check these findings about “Cultural Industries”:
One of the fastest growing sectors in the world economy. In the period 1994 to 2002 global exports grew from 39 billion to 59 billion (UNESCO 2005)
World Bank (2003) estimated that creative industries accounted for 7% of world’s GDP and PWC 2003 forecasts growth of 10% per annum.
Potential to allow developing countries to make a quantum leap into new wealth creation.
Sports also packaged as a multi-billion dollar entertainment industry.
Little wonder that our own Eddy Grant has been jolting Caribbean politicians with the prediction our Music will “Supplant rice and Sugar”, Bananas and Bauxite as the Region’s Primary Money-earning exports! Don’t laugh now. At least not loud. Look what’s happening to rice and sugar these days.
The Wilkinson piece indicates that the Caribbean sugar and banana industries are under siege by Europe and US-related interests: The two sectors are dying and even rice is ailing.
But then music revenue from Jamaican Sean Paul “annually surpasses that of banana exports”. Enough evidence that the creative industries need, at the minimum, more attention for regional governments.
Next time I’ll explore, culture as commerce and trade, copyright and use of the internet to market cultural/creative enterprises and festivals and the use of Guyana by movie producers. Until.
Miscellaneous….
They launched the Carifesta 10 city enhancement at Festival City recently but will council and citizens really transform that community’s jungle, drainage and general infra-structural decadence?
Can the City Council ever re-locate city terminals; remove derelict vehicles and bring order to the Stabroek Square or Regent Street? Ever?
Can our capital City Council ever really enforce its by-laws? Within the context of a culture of “hustling-a-dalluh”.
What can be argued against naming the Providence facility the Kanhai-Lloyd Stadium?
Is paint subject to VAT? Even during the Carifesta clean-up?
Commonwealth museums are meeting in Georgetown right now.
What!? Some new daily newspaper? To do polling?
I grieve for myself and the CNS TV Staff! Will the Guyana cook-up show find a new temporary kitchen?
‘Til Next Week!
