The Guyana government is currently in discussions to host the finals of the next Caribbean Premier League (CPL) but says that once the agreement is reached it will be run off amid major regional fanfare and celebration.
The Caribbean Premier League is a cricket tournament that has been around since 2013 and is expected to continue next year between the months of August and September.
Guyana’s Head of State Dr. Irfaan Ali said Wednesday night that once Guyana is given the go-ahead for the CPL finals, “it will come with a big twist.”
He said it will not only be about cricket but two weeks of hard-core tourism activities to promote Guyana and the region.
Among the major activities, as envisioned, is a regional carnival to be hosted here. Guyanese who have long enjoyed the local Mashramani festival – a modest fete to carnival – started their own private sector-led carnival a few years ago.
“We don’t have the time it will take to catch up with the big carnival players. That will take too long but we must find ways to bridge the gap the fastest way we can,” Dr. Ali said as he talked up his government’s big vision for the overall development of tourism here while attending the first-ever tourism annual awards and dinner at Parc Rayne.
He said the government was working on a concept to bring the number one carnival bands from Barbados, Trinidad and St. Lucia which will, in turn, come with their followers to Guyana for a “CARICOM regional carnival. A real Caribbean carnival.”
“We have to think big and think ahead of the game,” the President said as he addressed major players in the industry.
He believes that during that period, the Guyana Festival which offers a stage to local artistes will be rejuvenated. He said there will be a regional night, a CARICOM food festival and much more.
More details on this will be revealed at the appropriate time. (Kurt Campbell)