CARIBBEAN TODAY


 Guyana expecting record

 participation for CARIFESTA
GEORGETOWN, Guyana, that other countries, such as
CMC The 10th staging of the Australia, United Kingdom,
Caribbean Festival of the Arts China, French Guiana and
(CARIFESTA X) is set to Morocco had also indicated an
attract record participation interest in participating in
from Caribbean, Latin CARIFESTA X, which is
American, North American being hosted under the theme
and European countries, "One Caribbean, One Purpose
according to Guyana's Minister Our Culture, Our Life".
of Culture, Youth and Sport Expressing satisfaction
Dr. Frank Anthony. with the response so far,
 He said that approximately Anthony said that an an-rL,,-
1,300 of the expected 2,000 del- sive awareness campaign,"
egates from 22 countries have which is to be launched soon,
already confirmed their partici- would further stimulate more
pation in the Caribbean's pre- international interest in the
mier cultural event to be staged festival and assured that ade-
in Guyana this year Aug. 22-31. quate accommodation would
 Traditionally, CARIFES- be provided.
TA had showcased the top He pointed to 3,041 exist-
creators of the Caribbean in ing hotel rooms and announced
their varied artistic spheres. his intention to augment this by
However, the festival has reactivating the Bed and


opened its doors to countries
outside of CARICOM and
Latin America.
 The culture minister added


Breakfast programme that was
successfully operated during
Cricket World Cup 2007.
0


Grenada carnival sticks

 with foreign judges


ST. GEORGE'S, Grenada,
CMC Carnival organizers here
say they are planning to use for-
eign judges for local calypso
competitions again despite
objections from the Grenada
Progressive Association of
Calypso and Tents (GPACT).
 The announcement was
expected to upset GPACT,
whose opposition to foreign
judges sparked a conflict that
thrLJIL nid to throw last year's
carnival celebrations into dis-
array.
 "GPACT as you all know
took us to court for that
action last year and they had
expressed to us in our post
mortem meeting that they are
against foreign judges," said
Arthur Hosten, Grenada's chief
carnival organizer.
 ILEd on what happened
last year with the confidence
and integrity of the process,

Guyana reviving
GEORGETOWN, Guyana,
CMC Guyana is spending an
estimated $20,000 to acquire
32 steel pans from Trinidad
and Tobago in a bid to resus-
citate the local steel pan
industry.
 The pans will form the
nucleus of a national steel
band which, according to a
Government Information
Agency (GINA) statement,
will hopefully take its place in
the national cultural arena.
 "The National Steel Band
will consist of approximately
56 persons and rehearsals will
commence shortly", the state-
ment added.


 we are continuing with foreign
 judges this year."

 COMPROMISE
 The dispute played out in a
 Grenada High Court at the
 height of carnival celebrations
 last year after Justice Kenneth
 Benjamin ruled in favor of an
 application by GPACT to pres-
 ent their case against the
 Grenada Cultural Foundation
 (GCF).
 However, the start of the
 calypso finals, part of De
 Manche Gras, the main carni-
 val show, was delayed by more
 than four hours due to a back
 stage quarrel between officials
 and GPACT over the composi-
 tion of the final judging panel.
 Carnival, Grenada's major
 cultural showpiece will climax
 Aug. 11-12.



steel pan industry
 "Steel band was a popular
 form of entertainment for sev-
 eral years in Guyana but went
 into decline. It is hoped that
 this initiative will bring it back
 to its former glory and reach
 even further hi igl, .
 Andrew Tyndal, project
 consultant for the National
 Steel Band and Development
 Project, said that the resuscita-
 tion of steel band in three
 schools has commenced, with
 tutors conducting training ses-
 sions at St. Joseph's High,
 Dolphin Secondary and Lodge
 Community High School.
 0


eNTERTnAINmenT


LW-S^^ caribbeantoday


SnimrE*W 7b Aa- MJJa*1x'


BRIGHT AND BEAUTIFUL


Jamaican artist Paul Blackwood shows his artwork to his country's Ambassador to the United States Anthony Johnson next to him.
The pieces were on display last month at the Embassy of Jamaica in Washington, D.C. Also viewing the artwork are, from left, fel-
low Jamaican artist Courtney Morgan and Stephen Salny. The four-day exhibition showcased over 75 works by the two artists,
specializing in landscapes, abstracts and semi-abstracts, oil on canvas and collages. It was the third year that the two artists have
shown their works in the U.S. capital.


0 1


June 2008