The Grand market at the Eighth Caribbean Festival of Creative Arts (CARIFESTA VIII), currently being observed in neighbouring Suriname, opened August 25 with approximately 30 booths on display by the participating countries.
Guyana has a special craft team comprising 36 members, which is participating in the Grand Market and Exhibitions along with members of the Carnegie School of Home Economics, a 12-member group, which will showcase the culinary art of Guyana.
The Ministry of Tourism, industry and Commerce also has two representatives who are expected to have booths in Paramaribo.
Each country will be displaying some of its local products until August 30. These include items such as clothing, craft, art and music.
There would also be fashion shows by Caribbean designers, cookouts, demonstrations of traditional medicine and musical entertainment.
Suriname's President, His Excellency, Ronald Venetiaan, said that the market is an ideal opportunity for the Caribbean community, (CARICOM) to meet each other in the spirit of one Regional Society.
Suriname's Vice President, the Honourable Jules Ajodhia said that the Surinaame organizers, together with their Caribbean counterparts, produced the Grand Market with the objective of promoting the talents and versatilities in the Region.
The Guyanese contingent, which comprises almost one hundred persons, left Guyana since Friday last to become familiar with their schedule of performances, since this was not confirmed at the time of their departure.
According to reports from Suriname, the Guyanese culture group is performing in an indigenous village, Albina, after which it would be performing in Nicekerie.
The Mari-Mari group from Sand Creek, Guyana, performed at the opening ceremony of the indigenous forum on Monday and was well received. They were scheduled to perform again yesterday, at the indigenous Albina Village.