Barbados’ hosting of CARIFESTA XV faced pointed scrutiny after a troubled launch, but surging attendance, packed venues and positive vendor feedback are now fuelling renewed optimism for the regional arts celebration, according to the minister responsible for culture.
Senator Shantal Munro-Knight acknowledged that the highly anticipated Grand Market at Waterford, St Michael, got off to a rocky start, but maintained that the festival has since gained momentum and is delivering on its promise to showcase the best of Caribbean arts and culture.
She described the public response as “overwhelming” in recent days, noting sold-out performances, packed workshops, and heavy foot traffic at the Grand Market, despite the initial setbacks. The turnout proves that Barbados has risen to the challenge of hosting the region’s largest cultural festival, she told Barbados TODAY during an update on the festival’s progress.
“I would have to admit that when we started the Market that it wasn’t perfect. We should have been more ready on Saturday. We weren’t, we started a little later than we would have wanted to,” the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office with responsibility for culture said, acknowledging what she described as “early kinks” in the festival’s flagship marketplace.
Her remarks follow days of public scrutiny over whether Barbados could meet its ambitious targets for hosting the event.
Last week, festival director Carol Roberts, the chief executive of the National Cultural Foundation, gave an assurance that the Grand Market and other venues would be “up and ready” in time for the opening, even as workers raced against the clock to finish key sites, including the market’s five-petal tent structure and the new National Performing Arts Centre at Newton, Christ Church.
Senator Munro-Knight said those concerns were not unfounded, but emphasised that the situation has changed significantly since the opening weekend.
She said, “We have worked to overcome those challenges. And I believe that the crowds that are coming out and the fact that the vendors are admitting that they are having good sales… suggest that we have worked as assiduously as we can to deliver the best CARIFESTA that Barbadians can put on.”
The Grand Market, billed as the heart of CARIFESTA with its mix of craft, cuisine, and cultural experiences, is now attracting large crowds daily, the minister said.
“The Grand Market has been seeing droves of Barbadians and other people coming through,” Munro-Knight said, adding that feedback from vendors and delegations has been “very positive”.
She further described an “overwhelming” response to the broader festival programme, which includes theatre, music, dance, and visual arts.
“If we look at just the number of sold-out shows, the crowds that have been coming to events, not only the big events, but also turning out for the workshops, really overwhelming response there as well,” she said.
“The complaint that people would have now is that there are so many events and it’s sometimes hard to choose. But it suggests that there is a big appetite in Barbados. Yes, we have the regional crowds, but Barbadians have been coming out to support the other regional acts, and support local acts as well”.
While optimistic, Senator Munro-Knight stopped short of declaring the festival an unqualified success.
“It’s not finished so I don’t want to call it that we have done it successfully as yet… but so far, Barbados has done well to showcase and deliver for CARIFESTA XV,” she said.
The minister encouraged Barbadians to continue attending events in the final days of the festival and to take advantage of spaces like the Youth Village.
“We want young people to engage and express themselves. And I hope that at the end of it Barbadians can hold up their heads and say we did it and did it successfully,” she added.
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