Thanks to the government for the valuable public information provided at a Monday press conference announcing the territory’s delegation to Carifesta XV in Barbados. Congratulations and best wishes to the delegation’s 53 members.
However, a pre-travel taste for our people of what the Virgin Islands is presenting in Barbados would have been ideal. Hopefully, we can take the production to our stage and exhibition spaces when the delegation returns home.
In the meantime, I hope we can expect a full Government Information Services report that includes the names of the delegates — and arts categories for the full contingent.
‘Ready to represent’
On Monday, the creatives appeared ready to represent — and vibrantly so in their territorial colours. I wish them all the best on their cultural mission.
I cannot say the same for the quality of the Carifesta announcement. It came across as unscripted, sketchy, rushed, overly casual, poorly prepared and downright unprofessional. Especially live in front our youths, GIS has to drop all slackness and mediocrity and come better!
I gathered that the coordinator/director of this high-level national production is K’mari Fahie, the assistant secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sustainable Development. Surely, he could not have done this solo. I assume he had a working committee, and it would have been good to mention the members.
I assume also that Mr. Fahie, besides being a public officer, is a seasoned creative himself. Protocol would normally have required that he receive a proper introduction.
‘Burning question’
I’ll end with a burning question that requires an honest answer to resolve a seemingly sensitive issue.
Where is our Department of Culture and the director of culture in the ministry’s agenda? What is her role in our preparation for and participation in Carifesta XV?
