Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth, Stephen Lashley (second from left) signed a host broadcasters agreement with the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), represented by General Manager Doug Hoyte (left) and a Memorandum of Understanding with the Caribbean Broadcasting Union (CBU), represented by CBU Secretary General Sonia Gill (right). Looking on was permanent secretary Ruth Blackman.
Efforts are on to ensure that when Barbados hosts CARIFESTA XIII from August 7th to 27th, it will have a wide reach via live broadcasts to viewers in Barbados, the rest of the region and the Diaspora.
As part of the preparations for CARIFESTA, Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth, Stephen Lashley signed a host broadcasters agreement with the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), and a Memoran-dum of Understanding with the Caribbean Broadcasting Union (CBU) yesterday. The signing ceremony took place in the Minister’s Conference Room in Sky Mall, Haggatt Hall, St. Michael.
“This morning, you have witnessed the initialing of two very important agreements, one with the CBC. CBC has been appointed as the host country broadcasting agency responsible for all of the television and of course the broadcasting arrangements in relation to CARIFSTA XIII, which will be held in Barbados from the 17th of August until the 27th and their responsibility of course is very critical to the successful broadcasting of all events of the festival,” Minister Lashley pointed out.
“We will have in Barbados approximately 3,000 cultural artistes from across the region. To date, we have on board approximately 27 countries and the actual programme is looking very exciting. (So) we want to ensure that we can document all aspects of the festival,” he added, noting that the last time Barbados served as host to CARIFESTA, was in 1981.
“The Caribbean Broadcasting Union is also a critical partner, particularly in relation to ensuring that we could ensure coverage and availability of the events on television to our outside audience, particularly across the Caribbean and beyond, into the Diaspora,” he stated, stressing that there is a tremendous amount of interest in the festival, in the region and beyond.
General Manager of CBC, Doug Hoyte, in acknowledging the Corporation’s role in the promotion of cultural development in Barbados, noted that for this project, CBC will be establishing a separate broadcasting entity called CARIFESTA Television, which will be broadcasting 24 hours a day throughout the festival.
CBU Secretary General, Sonia Gill stated that, “The CBU is excited about this opportunity to make this regional festival something that all the people of the region can participate in and enjoy.” (RSM)