Focus on Caribbean Arts and Culture

ST VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES has announced that it will have a significant participation in this year’s Caribbean Festival of Arts and Culture (CARIFESTA XV) to be held in Barbados beginning today, August 22, and extending until August 31. Taking advantage of the proximity of the host nation, SVG will not only be significantly represented numerically, but it will also be making a pitch to expose the youth of our nation by the inclusion of 50 students (secondary and tertiary) as part of the delegation.

For the host country, this will be is third hosting of this ambitious festival. It has chosen the theme, “Caribbean roots…Global excellence” which aims to highlight the deep regional cultural ties while celebrating the Caribbean’s rising global influence in the creative industries. No doubt, Barbados’ global superstar and national cultural icon, Rihanna, will play a leading role in highlighting this aspect of Caribbean cultural wealth.

CARIFESTA itself was first staged in Guyana in 1972 at the instigation of some of the region’s outstanding cultural artistes. That was the year in which rising nationalism was sweeping the region, anxious to shake off the neo-colonial shackles and proclaim the independence of the emerging region. It is not by chance that the same year, 1972, was the year that the nationalist leaders of the then independent ex-British colonies, affirmed their independence by defying big-power wishes and recognizing Cuba as a legitimate Caribbean state.

The decision to stage CARIFESTA had its roots in that affirmation of independence by what was called the region’s “Big Four” – Prime Ministers Forbes Burnham, Errol Barrow, Dr Eric Williams and Michael Manley, all of blessed memory. The cultural festival was another expression of the affirmation that this

region had its own independent contribution to make to the region and that our cultural arts were a fundamental part of this.

It has not been easy to sustain this thrust over the years. There are, of course, the financial and material challenges in a region where many, even at the highest levels of the political directorate and finance, do not necessarily share this commitment to the region’s arts. Commitment towards not only funding national participation, but even towards sustaining CARIFESTA itself, has been a major challenge. However, to the credit of all, the festival has endured.

Not only is credit due to states like Trinidad and Tobago which have hosted on multiple occasions, but even the resource-constrained “small island states” continue to demonstrate their commitment by their continued participation. That commitment will again be exhibited this year when the various delegations will once more exhibit their talents, making their continued appeal for greater support. Our region’s arts and culture are as important to us as any economic or tourism venture. Indeed, they underpin the successes of such ventures.

CARIFESTA manifests the very spirit of our people and deserves our full and unequivocal support. It is to be hoped that not only will our countries all pull their weight and provide such support, but follow that up with renewed commitment to, and perspective of the future of our cultural arts in a dynamic Caribbean.