CARIFESTA X - Brazilian Air Force Smoke Squadron

On Sunday August 24, 2008, the sky of Georgetown was illuminated, no not by lighting but by a fabulous display of artistic skills by the Brazilian Air Force Smoke Squadron.

As part of the CARIFESTA X activities in Guyana the Brazilian Air Force put on a extraordinary two hours aerial, display of tactical maneuvers leaving many Guyanese clinching to the seats or holding on to each other with bait breath. 

The seven aircraft kept the large crowd of Guyanese gather on the Seawalls, the Guyana Defense Force Compound and its environs eyes glued to the skies with anxiety for what is next but the déjà vu moment was when the seven aircraft wrote across the sky CARIFESTA X.

Having been disappointed with the poor coordination of the previous days events commencing with the Opening Ceremony all the spectators spoken to describe the display as unforgettable.  

CARIFESTA X - Youth Village

After several hours of delay the National Park came alive with a hype of activities as the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sports launched the CARIFESTA X Youth Village on August 25th 2008

The Youth Village offers a wide range of educational materials to young people, and was aimed at providing a youth-friendly space that provided edutainment for youths by youths.

Some of the notable organizations that had exhibits were UNICEF, Guyana Forestry Commission, Environmental Protection Agency Young America Business Trust Guyana Chapter, President Youth Award Republic of Guyana (PYARG), The National AIDS Programme Secretariat, ‘Murundoi’ Cellink and Digicel booths.

Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony, in his remarks said, that the Youth Village is being used as a strategy to entertain young people, but at the same time they are also being educated

However the two high points of the launching ceremony was the launching of the Youth Americas Forum by the Young America Business Trust Guyana Chapter. The Young Americas Forum is a process initiated by the Organization of American States and the Summit of the Americas Secretariat to facilitate the participation of young people in the Summit of the Americas process.

However the zenith of the evening activities was the energetic musical renditions the Surinamese Youth Delegation which took the spot light from all the other events.

The CARIFESTA X Youth Village was a week long event commencing at 14:00 and concluding on 20:00 daily. Each day saw the various Caribbean countries presenting different edutainment activities.