EDITORIAL - Many sides to CARIFESTA tale

Media practitioners can attest to the fact that there are many sides to a story. In the process of gathering information, facts from different sources may vary, but it all comes together in the end to form a true picture, which should then be presented to the public despite any subjective input or personal biases.

With regard to last week’s CARIFESTA XIII celebrations, there are conflicting reports coming from both political parties about its success. Minister of Culture, Stephen Lashley; Member of Parliament for St. Michael West Central, James Paul; and Prime Minister of Barbados, the Rt. Hon. Freundel Stuart, have all gone on record describing CARIFESTA XIII as a resounding success, with the latter even calling it a miracle that the activities were able to come off despite the initial upset of having to delay the opening ceremony as a result of the passage of Tropical Storm Harvey.

However, Opposition Leader Mia Mottley does not share this view. Speaking at a Barbados Labour Party branch meeting on Sunday, Ms. Mottley stated: “I am not going to call it Carifiasco Minister Lashley. It is the people of this country and the ones on social media who have passed the judgement on the absolute logistical madness and failure… what ought to have been an exercise in excellence, a cultural Olympiad, has become nothing more than an outing for a few people who had the fortune to know about the good artists and art that was available.”

Though each side would seek to deny the other’s assertions, there is some evidence to support both. Ms. Mottley stated, for instance, that “she did not expect that the events would be graced with poor attendance” and unfortunately a few of the initial events did have low turnouts. One highly circulated picture, for example, shows a musician playing to an empty parking lot. Yet everything must be taken in context and that particular event was staged on the same day as the postponed opening ceremony – a Sunday – two factors that might have affected turnout. Furthermore, after the first few days, attendance at most events was tremendous with members of the public flocking to Combermere School for performing arts; the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre for the Grand Market; and the Bay Street Esplanade for World Beat Night, for
example.

Yes, CARIFESTA XIII was not perfectly executed. Minister Lashley has himself admitted to several setbacks and logistical challenges that the organisers sought to rectify as they arose. And as Ms. Mottley pointed out, these issues were highlighted by some on social media. Still, for Ms. Mottley to throw out the term “Carifiasco” – though not claiming it as her own – was highly unfair, especially since at the time the closing ceremony was still under way and delegations from across the region were still in the island to witness her address. Also, just as there were posts on social media criticising CARIFESTA XIII for poor organisation, there were posts crediting the country and the festival for superb performances and achievements in Caribbean unification. Why couldn’t the Opposition Leader focus on those positive perspectives?

There is no sense in hiding one’s head in the sand and living in a dream world. Criticism should be welcomed in an effort to continually do better. However, that is not what pertains in this instance. The Cultural Minister and the organising committee have acknowledged complaints and acted within their limitations to make hasty corrections where possible. What also makes no sense is blatantly airing one’s “dirty laundry” while all eyes are on Barbados, all the while noting that “the Minister could not do it alone and it [CARIFESTA XIII] requires the support of a country…”. As Ms. Mottley stated on Sunday evening: “…I am ashamed. I am ashamed for my country, I am ashamed for my people, I am ashamed for the message that we have sent.”