A major infrastructural overhaul is underway at Sophia Exhibition Centre, the popular GuyExpo venue, in order to accommodate delegations for Carifesta X.
The Sophia Exhibition centre has been earmarked for a number of Carifesta (the Caribbean Festival of Arts) activities, including an Amerindian village as well as a culinary village, art and craft centre and fashion focus, the Government Information Agency (GINA) reported.
Special booths will be established within the Centre to accommodate the delegations participating in the culinary festival and the Carifesta Secretariat is soon to procure cooking equipment to furnish these locations.
Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Dr Frank Anthony, who is also chairman of the various subcommittees planning for Carifesta, spoke recently about the many enhancement arrangements ongoing at the site.
“Various countries will be cooking and selling their food on site so we have to create the whole village in such a manner that it allows for these activities to happen. The design is out and very shortly we will begin constructing,” Anthony said.
An arena for the fashion focus has also been identified, and according to Anthony repair works will commence on the various booths where delegates will be showcasing their designs. A special stage will be constructed to accommodate the parade, GINA added.
A major area of focus will be improving the entrance and exit to ease congestion and a new route will be created at the Dennis Street entrance.
A section of the centre has been selected for the Amerindian Village to feature representatives of the nine Amerindian tribes in Guyana who will be showcasing various aspects of their culture, including handicraft.
About eight Amerindian dwellings will be recreated, and support has already been solicited from the various Amerindian communities, GINA stated.
Meanwhile, landscaping work is also expected to commence as well as repairs to the main stage and sanitation facilities. And similar works will start on other Carifesta venues such as the National Cultural Centre (NCC) where air-conditioning and lighting services will be improved and the Guyana National Stadium at Providence where floodlights will be installed.
More than 100 cultural events will be featured during the 10 days of Carifesta to be held here under the theme “One Caribbean, One Purpose, Our Culture, Our life” from August 22 to 31.
