The Cooperative Republic of Guyana has successfully hosted CARIFESTA X. At the closing ceremony gratitude was extended to the people of Guyana for their unmatched hospitality towards the visiting delegations and others who were here to enjoy the festival. The 10th Caribbean Festival of Arts held across Guyana had been a resounding success and as Guyanese we should all be proud to have hosted such a prestigious event once again. As the festival once again leaves these shores we have, in the words of the President of Guyana, “breathe new life” into the festival. The spectacular closing ceremony was filled with only a sample o the cultural richness of the Caribbean region which has been on show for the past 10 days.
The well planned and skillfully executed program was a tribute to the dedication of those responsible. Even down to the finest detail, much care was taken to ensure those present at the closing ceremony would have an evening to remember. The event was planned in such a way to ensure there was not a single moment of boredom. Every item from beginning to end was designed to capture and maintain the collective attention of those gathered. All persons entering the stadium were given flags of Guyana in an effort to ensure that throughout the proceedings flags would be waving, and to this end they were successful. I would be hard-pressed to describe the extravagant program at length, but from the landing of paratroopers on the field to the breadth taking fireworks display, the closing ceremony of CARIFESTA X was probably the most memorable event throughout the entire festival.
The closing ceremony sought to encapsulate portions of the various art forms which were on display throughout the festival over the past ten days as well as an attempt by the next hosts, the Bahamas, to give a taste as to what to expect at CARIFESTA XI in 2010. Over the past 10 days Guyana played host to the Caribbean’s premier festival after only 10 months of planning. Bearing in mind this mega event usually takes 2 years to plan and execute, we as Guyanese have shown our excellence by accomplishing this fete. Imagine what we can do if we put our heads together in the promotion of Guyanese arts and entertainment internationally. I join with the President and all of the visiting delegations in saying congratulations to Guyana on hosting a successful Carifesta X.