– Education Ministry holds first meeting

THE Ministry of Education has begun planning for Carifesta XIII, which is scheduled for August 17- 27, 2017 in Barbados. At its first meeting with the main stakeholders on Friday, Minister within the Ministry of Education, Nicolette Henry, and Special Projects Officer, Lennox Canterbury, briefed approximately 25 officials and creative minds on the ministry’s expectations.
Guyana has registered to field a contingent to the event which is themed, “Asserting our culture, celebrating ourselves.”
A statement from the Ministry of Education said “the group is expected to chart a way forward to ensure Guyana’s active participation at the regional event in keeping with the overarching theme of presenting the country as a ‘Green-State’ to the Caribbean and the World.”
Representatives from the Craft, Culinary Arts, Fashion, Film Festival, Literary Arts, Performing Arts, Visual Arts, Symposia, Storytelling Events, Grand Cultural Market, Trade Fair, Youth Focus and Community Festival will participate in the Region’s biggest cultural event in more than 13 categories.
Additionally, the ministry said the group was informed of “additional fringe activities” for artists outside of the government-sponsored delegations. Those include the Caribbean Rum Festival, Trade Fair and Market for producers/suppliers of artistic products, Body and Soul Line (herbs, healthy lifestyles, massages, foods and animation.
There is a tentative proposal in place for several persons to be part of a Steering Committee; those heads of the committee are to work on a blue-print for each category of participation and were informed by Minister Henry that the blue-print must be guided by the overarching theme of leading the way for a ‘greener world.’
“This is beyond just looking at the colour green in conceptualising the green agenda,” the minister stated, while giving examples of the use of LCDs, renewable energy, the elimination of pollution and the reduction of health hazards.
Meanwhile, a youth calypso is slated for this year’s Carifesta activities and according to the Special Projects Officer, Lennox Canterbury, “Barbados has promised to send a team of talented scouts to the Guyana Junior Calypso Competition to select a competitor to the event.”
Public auditions for possible participants are set for March 2017 at the Umana Yana and it was emphasised that the criteria and conditions set by the conveners must be able to withstand national scrutiny. As such, it is proposed that before Guyana’s contingent leaves for Barbados,that their package be showcased locally.
All blue-prints must be completed for the next committee engagement set for January 27.