THE inaugural Guyana Festival – Sound, Soul and Taste – slated to take place at the Guyana National Stadium at Providence from August 8-10, 2014 will feature a fusion of the six different cultures that make up the Guyanese tapestry; and for the very first time, will be bringing together reflections of a true melting pot that represent the Guyanese identity.
Speaking to this newspaper on the developments and progress the festival is making, Director of the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA), Mr. Indranauth Haralsingh, who is also marketing coordinator of the festival, explained that the festival is receiving tremendous support both locally and internationally.
Only recently, he said, Courts Guyana donated $2M and Caricom Bottling Inc. donated $3M towards staging the festival.
Haralsingh explained that the festival committee is presently focusing on making persons aware of the event by means of a massive marketing campaign. “We have had a road show in Parika, Region 3, and the staff distributed flyers and had discussions with the public; and I average that we directly reached a few thousand persons.”
He indicated that there will be a series of other road shows across the length and breadth of Guyana, and committee members are currently working to have some of the Guyanese singers and other celebrities onboard these road shows.
In high-traffic areas, such as the East Bank of Demerara, the Rupert Craig Highway and a few other places, the festival committee has already placed billboards to sensitise the public of the event.
A number of persons are also working on marketing the festival internationally in New York, Miami and Toronto, with flyers being placed in aircraft traversing the Guyana route. Flyers have also been placed at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) and at a number of hotels, Haralsingh disclosed.
The Guyana Festival Passport, costing US$15, will be available to mark this event, and there will also be a festival coin available at King’s Jewellery World. Other branded memorabilia available for purchase both locally and internationally will soon be available.
The GTA will announce at a later date, where these ‘keepsake’ items will be available, but interested persons can also contact the office at 219-0094/96.
The Guyana Festival covers three days, and will feature the country’s most celebrated legends in sports, culture, art, music, food, entertainment, and much more. Day One will feature an air-show and national concert; Day Two the audience will experience the Night of the Legends, and Day Three will feature a National Cook-off with food from every culture, followed by the Generation X Concert.
(By Rebecca Ganesh-Ally)
