-Corbin’s concerns, blunders, americana
In the spirit of Carifesta realities and opposition leader RHO Corbin’s concerns, I pen these notes.
The tenth edition of Caribbean Festival of Arts is two days away from its conclusion here in Guyana. These Guyanese of political orientation seem to be quite ambivalent about the Region’s cultural mega-event and the fact that economically–challenged Guyana hosted it. Among those who voiced both concerns and criticism with respect to the government’s decision to host and spend millions was RHO Corbin leader of the People’s National Congress (PNC) and the parliamentary opposition leader.
From time to time, I pay attention to what my erstwhile boss says. Now, from what I have been observing, the PNC “traditional supporters” have been joining all other groups – in their thousands – to support and participate in Carifesta Ten events. The leader may boycott but his followers are loving, justifiably, the free events. (Yes, stressed-out folks – and, lovers of culture – all need the balm the beautiful distraction, the cultural circus. A circus is always fun – never bad news!).
Mind you, I take Comrade Corbin’s point: The Government needs to implement a continuous, consistent policy for all-round, national cultural development. Before, during and long after this festival Corbin’s stated indisposition to Carifesta in Guyana, at this time, included the preference for the millions expended to be spent instead, on the Single Parent Assistance programme and other pressing economic needs, he cited alleged human rights abuses and freedom of expression concerns. (Alas, even the Caricom Secretariat did not share his concerns.)
Frankly Speaking, Corbin’s and other cynics’ views only gained some validity when the Festival’s local organizers blundered miserably with the ticket distribution situation; when venues were not really ready even by Sunday; when there was no water at Sophia, along with other early management lapses and embarrassments, clearly exposing the inexperience – born of favouritism and some nepotism- of some of the “directors” and their subordinates.
However, when the inefficiencies and blunders were corrected (by Tuesday/Wednesday) the Corbin/oppositionists rejection rang hollow. Even politically, I predict that President Jagdeo’s reasons for hosting Carifesta, and the execution of the festival itself, will bring him significant status standings in local opinion polls.
Cultural development
– now and after
The criticisms of the festival, veiled, or overt, are overwhelmed by the delight, the joy, the effort to appreciate, mirrored on the faces of the young Guyanese in Festival City, Hopetown, Linden, the National Park and yes at Anna Regina and Albion. For the first time they were seeing, in the flesh, Javanese, Venezuelan dance, Brazilian Sky-writing, Amerindian tribes, Art and Craft from the Caribbean, our Region’s songs, singers, films and writers of meaningful words.
Whatever your politics, it’s hard to put down those experiences. We concerned and committed Guyanese must not allow this re-awakening to go to sleep after this month-end!
I claim an itsy-bitsy but significant bit of credit for the imminent revival of steel-pan playing in Guyana. (I can elaborate, if necessary). So too, all of us must insist on the maintenance and availability of the new equipment and infrastructure every month from now. Money must appear for developing new venues. The annual Guyana Festival of Arts – Guyfesta – must re-appear in some form. Book-publishing and Copyright laws must be issues we keep in front of the Culture Ministry’s attention.
As I have written repeatedly, in the run-up to this lovely event, whatever the level of success of the festival, Carifesta Ten’s legacy must be the continuous manifestation of our own traditions and the structured development of Guyana’s cultural industries and products as never before.
In the latter regard we must hold the Caricom Secretariat to its word to offer expert guidance. Funding would be welcomed too, I suspect. A happy rewarding Carifesta Ten. Welcome Caribbean, Welcome World!
American…
Just my few digs at that great country too many people love to hate: The USA. (Eat your hearts out; America can never be ignored…)
Yes, they were overshadowed at the Beijing Olympics in the high profile athletics and boxing, but their might still gained them the most medals overall. And the world of sport has a name which suggests greatness – Michael Phelps. Even as Usain Bolt seems destined for that in the “immediate future.”
Oh, so you are all for the half white candidate Barack Obama? And for Joe Biden, the Vice-President hopeful who said earlier this year that Obama wasn’t ready? OK that’s the popular ticket that even I would love to experience. But don’t write off old John Mc Cain too early.
By the way, here are two planks of Mc Cain’s Foreign policy to be, if ever he wins: (1) Creating a League of Democracies that could act with the United Nations or when the United Nations fails to act;
(2) Revitalizing the trans-Atlantic partnership, by adding Brazil and India to the Group of Eight highly industrialized nations but excluding Russia;
I invite you to study the implications of just those two elements carefully.
Car-eee…
I thank the handlers of the marauding criminal gangs for holding the “boys”, the bandits during the Festival. Thanks a lot. Please do so, forever.
Creative Artists and institutions, museums, concert halls and publishing houses all need money too. Governments must take care of economic needs and social imperatives – health care, education, transportation, national security etc. Even the writers and singers need those services. The challenge for governments is to find the balance between economics and culture. The latter must never be neglected. For besides defining a people, it can “make money” too.
2b) The PNC should have staged a dignified, but appropriately colourful ceremony to recall Forbes Burnham’s original Carifesta vision. (Pity the Government didn’t)
2c) I understand that another section of the press just beat me to this, but I also want to ask how is our first female foreign minister getting on? We had a remarkably glorious tradition.
The first super-concert proved to me that I’m getting old! Young-at-heart, I just couldn’t take much from that stage last Saturday. Funny some of the young seemed to agree with me! But I’m still going!
‘Til next week!
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