“This is what CARIFESTA is telling the Diaspora; we welcome you all,” he said.
Hasrat, a retired army medical doctor and Suriname’s former ambassador to Guyana, serves as Secretary in the Management Team that is charged with organizing the 11th staging of the Caribbean Festival of Arts (CARIFESTA) in Paramaribo from August 16 to 23 next year.
In the Netherlands on private business he took advantage of the opportunity to inform the Suriname’s of the plans being made to include them in the region’s premier creative and performing arts.
“It’s going to be the largest CARIFESTA ever, in terms of participants and in terms of organization,” he said.
CARIFESTA was first held in Guyana in 1972 and this will be the second occasion Suriname will be hosting the event.
However it will be the first time the Dutch-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICCOM) country will host he event under the new model prescribed in the strategic plan developed in 2004. The new approach provides more opportunities for professional and artistic development for the region’s artists, but Hasrat said CARIFESTA is also very much geared toward inclusion and creating legacy.
Apart from the 15-member CARICOM grouping, the event now attracts countries of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR).
“Suriname has adopted its own new Diaspora policy, because we are aware of the qualities and skills of our people here. And all other CARICOM member states are encouraging their artists in their diasporas to take part too,” Hasrat said.
“Suriname is now also a member of UNASUR, and President Desi Bouterse was adamant that in the spirit of regionalisation the Latin American countries would also take part. That’s more than 40 countries in total.”
He is anticipating that Suriname will host more than 2,000 participants given the fact that the contingents from each country should number at least 50.
“It’s going to be quite a challenge, but we’re going for it,” he said, as Paramaribo prepares to welcome painters, sculptors, theatrical artists, musicians, dancers and arts and craftsmen.
The festival will be held in the historic wooden inner city of Paramaribo and the organisers say “from the Independence Square and the Presidential Palace, down to the heart of town, people are supposed to feel that CARIFESTA is in town. Paramaribo is going to be a Festival City that week”.
Hasrat said that the “fringe” events would probably be the biggest draw.
“The fringe is everything surrounding the event, the craftsmen, the musicians, the culinary professionals,” he said. The fringe will come alive in the special CARIFESTA villages that will be set up all over the country. Hasrat said the vibe would also be felt in the districts, as the event will not stay just in town. “We’re setting up at least 30 podia all over the country, to include the communities outside Paramaribo as well. That is the true spirit of CARIFESTA,” he said.
Special attention will also be reserved for the region’s first inhabitants.
“We’re building a traditional village in the interior where visitors can come and experience the indigenous way of life. And the intention is that when CARIFESTA is over, the village remains for people to visit.”
The dates for some local events that individual organizations had already been planning –like a Curry Duck festival- have been adjusted, so they now fall within the CARIFESTA week.
“Now it’s going to be a Curry Duck Fest with 1500 people. We’ll have all sorts of festivals within the big Festival,” Hasrat grinned.
His entire audience grinned along when he revealed that someone is thinking of organising a Rum Festival with all rums of the region, with bartenders mixing up their cocktails. “Rum lovers will be able to appreciate that,” someone said.
“Mega Shows” will be organized, featuring some of the biggest stars in music who hail from the region. “We’re thinking of names like Juan Luis Guerra. Someone is already working on bringing Banda Calypso from Brazil. There are thousands of Brazilians in Suriname, who will attend a show like that,” Hasrat said explaining that the “Mega Shows” are meant to help cover some of some of the cost of hosting the weeklong festival.
He said in accordance with the advice given by the Guyana-based CARICOM Secretariat, Suriname has budgeted US$ 5 million for the event, knowing that the cost could increase.
The Management Team are looking to various sponsors including the mobile phone companies operating in Suriname as well as the state oil company Staatsolie and gold miner Iamgold to provide much needed funds.
“We’re not doing that bad in Suriname these days and we do have businesses that can help carry this event,” he said, as he encouraged Surinamers in the Netherlands with artistic skills to submit their proposals.
“Who knows you may be included in the Suriname contingent,” he said.
National carrier Surinam Airways and Dutch airline KLM are being approached to provide special rates for participants from the Netherlands.
“We’re the host country, so we’re playing on the home field. That will be evident from the opening ceremony. We will shine.”
Hasrat said Suriname intends to use the event to rejuvenate art and culture.
“We’ve been experiencing that the expressions of art and culture have dwindled over the years, so our intention with CARIFESTA is for it to leave a lot more than garbage when it’s over.
“In terms of infrastructure, we’re fixing our theatres. In terms of education, we’re starting a CARIFESTA caravan that will go to all districts to get people warmed up for the event, but it will not stop after CARIFESTA is over.
“And things we’re building for the event –like the Indigenous Village- will remain for tourists to experience and people to learn from in the future,” he said, adding “and we’re leaving a regional legacy.”
One feature of CARIFESTA will be the fact that each participating country will be asked to produce five songs for children.
“At the end of CARIFESTA we will have 75 new songs, five of which will be from Suriname. And now the idea of the children’s songs has spurred the idea of producing children’s books. CARIFESTA will introduce a whole lot and the intention is for all of it to remain as a legacy,” Hasrat told the audience, his hands, still open wide.
CMC/mh/pr/2012