– Carifesta XIV in T&T hailed as a major success

THE 15th edition of the Caribbean Festival of Arts (CARIFESTA) will be held in Antigua and Barbuda in 2021, following the conclusion of CARIFESTA XIV in Trinidad and Tobago on Sunday night.

On Sunday night, at the closing ceremony held at the Queen’s Park Savannah, Antigua and Barbuda’s Minister of Sports, Culture, National Festivals and the Arts, Daryll Matthew, received the CARIFESTA baton from Trinidad and Tobago’s Minister of Community Development, Culture and the Arts, Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly.

Antigua and Barbuda will host CARIFESTA XV in 2021. The festival will coincide with the year of that country’s 40th Independence anniversary.

“As a Caribbean people, we demonstrated how much we love our little part of this planet,” the Antiguan Minister said, reflecting on this year’s CARIFESTA.
According to him, the hosting of the festival in Trinidad and Tobago has definitely raised the bar, and set a new standard for the execution of the festival.

More importantly, he affirmed that the 10-day festival provided a chance for Caribbean countries to immerse themselves in their history and culture while lending energies to the regional integration agenda.

T&T’s Minister with responsibility for Culture, Dr. Gadsby- Dolly, posited: “For the past 10 days this festival impacted the way we value Caribbean identity and shifted paradigms.”
Much like Matthew, she stressed that Carifesta will continue to be a festival that will showcase Caribbean culture and will endure throughout the years

This year’s CARIFESTA featured elements of Film and Animation, Literary Arts, Fashion, Food, Entertainment, Visual Arts, Craft, Drama and Dance.

And as it relates to the cultural showcase, the T&T Minister said, “We have once again shown that this small region is a powerful force to be reckoned with.”

Also giving brief remarks was Assistant Secretary General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Douglas Slater who stated that “CARIFESTA XIV has been a real great time.”
According to him, Trinidad and Tobago has “raised the bar”, particularly in its technical and marketing standards in delivering the festival.

At Sunday’s closing ceremony as well, the permanent logo for Carifesta was unveiled. This was an animated logo which featured a masquerader who has the flags of the Caribbean surrounding him.