The Caribbean Festival of Arts, or CARIFESTA, the region’s premier cultural festival, which was scheduled to be held in Antigua and Barbuda in August next year, has been postponed to August 2022.
Daryll Matthew, minister of Sports, Culture, National Festivals, and the Arts of Antigua and Barbuda, announced the decision on Oct. 8 at a virtual meeting of the Regional Cultural Committee, CARICOM Today reported.
The committee comprises directors of culture from the 20 member states and associate members of CARICOM, as well as members of the Interim Festival Directorate for CARIFESTA.
Matthew indicated at the meeting that preparations had already commenced in earnest with the establishment of the CARIFESTA Secretariat and a Host Country Management Committee that had been carrying out their mandate with “enthusiasm, zeal and purpose.”
“CARIFESTA provides a platform for our region to showcase to the world the unrivaled prowess of our people,” he said. “As such, Antigua and Barbuda is eager to welcome our Caribbean brothers and sisters to our shores as we demonstrate to the world our capacity for innovation and creativity as we stage this very unique festival.”
In reply to the minister’s announcement, Dr. Douglas Slater, assistant secretary-general in charge of human and social development at the CARICOM Secretariat, expressed CARICOM’s appreciation for Antigua and Barbuda’s enthusiasm and commitment to hosting CARIFESTA XV and support for the decision to postpone the festival.