As preparations for the Caribbean Festival of Arts (CARIFESTA XII) in Haiti 21-30 August, 2015, get into high gear, the CARICOM Heads of Government, in the just-concluded Heads of Government in Barbadosreiterated their full support for this event. The sentiment was published in 36th CHOGM Communique issued when the Meeting concluded on Saturday.

The Heads also pledged their support for CARIFESTA XIII which will take place in Barbados in 2017.

A delegation from the CARICOM Secretariat is currently in Haiti, where preparations for the event are now in full swing. The group will be doing a tour of the venues for the event and CARIFESTA XII will be officially launched in the Region on Tuesday evening with a ceremony at the Ibo Lele Hotel. The event can be followed at http://original.livestream.com/martelly?t=886709

CARIFESTA XII) will be hosted under the theme ‘Our roots, our culture, our common future’. It is a multi-disciplinary, mega event that showcases the cultural expressions of artists in 30 countries in the Caribbean region. It was initiated by the Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community in 1972 to celebrate the arts, foster a vision of Caribbean unity and to positively advance Caribbean culture regionally and internationally.

To date, ten editions of CARIFESTA have been staged in eight countries, the most recent being held inSuriname in 2012. The responsibility for staging CARIFESTA has traditionally been shared among the Caribbean Community, the Secretariat and the host country.

More information about the festival can be accessed at the CARIFESTA XII website www.carifesta.net> . The website can be viewed in both English and French. For current updates on preparation for the Festival you may also check Twitter, Instagramand Facebook.