The Caribbean has never waited for calm to create and some of its best work are in the storms, reminded Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley as she flung open the country’s doors to welcome thousands for a ten-day festival of food, arts and craft of the region yesterday.
It was the start of CARIFESTA XV under the theme Caribbean Roots – Global Excellence, the third time Barbados is hosting the itinerant Caribbean Festival of Arts established in 1972. It has since evolved into the cultural extravaganza that yesterday started with a colourful and energetic street parade in the capital Bridgetown.
“I am happy,” Mottley declared moments after addressing the huge crowd at the historic Queen’s Park during an opening ceremony generously laced with artistic expressions in dance, costumes and music from across the Caribbean. She also insisted that Bridgetown was now “communicating to the rest of the region”.
Her audience included Acting President of Barbados Reverend Dr Jeffrey Gibson, President of Guinea-Bissau Umaro Mokhtar Sissoco Embaló, Vice-President of Colombia Francia Márquez, who opened the Embassy of Colombia here on Thursday, Premier of the British Virgin Islands Natalio Wheatley, and Chief Justice Leslie Haynes.
“We have created some of our best work under tyranny and oppression and therefore, we are determined as a nation, that we would work with the CARICOM Secretariat to give life once again – even in these difficult times – to the expression of creativity in the civilisation,” Mottley said.
She added her touch to the anticipated cultural festival with the inclusion of the Prime Minister’s Student Jamboree, pointing out that almost every aspect of creativity over the course of the affair would be on display and made all the more special by the students’ attendance.
The Prime Minister, wearing a pink pants suit created by Nigerian Reni Folawivo, said the regional event went further than the genius of the Caribbean with the inclusion of the African Continent.
“We determined that this CARIFESTA must also be about where we have come from and where we have gone to. Therefore, during the course of CARIFESTA, you will see productions and participation from our brothers and sisters in Africa.
“You will also see, as you saw from this stage this evening, our brothers and sisters from Cuba, from Panama, from Venezuela, because in every instance we have had people who emigrated to these countries,” she said.
She singled out Panama, as one in almost every four Bajan men more than a century ago left to help build the Panama Canal. (AC)
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