– Says CARICOM Secretary-General
Photos and stories by Vishani Ragobeer

CARIFESTA XIV will provide opportunities for new and emerging Caribbean talent and persons will be able to showcase their skills and tap into international markets.
This is according to Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Irwin LaRocque who was at the time making remarks at the Opening Ceremony of the Caribbean Festival of Arts (CARIFESTA) XIV, at the Queen’s Park Savannah in Trinidad.

Since its creation in 1972, when it was crafted by Former Guyanese President LFS Burnham, CARIFESTA has been a space for Caribbean people to showcase their creative skills and talents. In Guyana, like in many Caribbean countries, the creative sector is not a major driver of economic growth.

But according to LaRocque, “A vibrant, productive creative sector would only redound to the benefit of the social and economic stability of our region.”
Already, he acknowledged, the Caribbean culture – which involves the creative sector – has garnered international reputation. Caribbean music, in particular, is one sector which has risen to international acclaim.

As such, he opined that it is imperative for governments in the Region to tap into the creative sector. Furthermore, he reminded the audience of the clear commitment made by the CARICOM Heads of Government in February 2016 to identify the cultural assets of the Caribbean and subsequently support these to facilitate job creation, growth and even youth engagement. And CARIFESTA, he noted, presents an opportunity to do just that.

“An integral element of this event is the creation of opportunities for new and emerging artistes to break into international markets,” he said. The CARICOM Secretary General also stressed the theme CARIFESTA XIV: “Connect, Share, Invest.”

Trinidad and Tobago’s Minister of Community Development, Culture and Arts, Dr. Nyan Gadsby-Dolly also highlighted that this year’s CARIFESTA indeed focuses on providing opportunities for new and upcoming creative persons in the sector.

She mentioned that there are a host of opportunities for learning and knowledge transfer. The festival encompasses a section known as the “Journey Around Myself”, where persons have the opportunity to learn from creative experts across the Caribbean through workshops and symposia.

At this opening ceremony, all the participating countries were allowed to “Cross the Stage” in true Trinidadian Carnival fashion, and the delegations were treated to a spectacular cultural show.