As a prelude to the conduct of the 12th Arts Festival of the Caribbean, Carifestato be held in Haiti from August 14 to 23 under the theme "Our Roots, Our Culture, Our Common Future", Jean Michel Lapin, the Director General the Ministry of Culture, accompanied particularly by Elsa Baussan Noel, the Adviser to the President Martelly, Robert Denis of Council of Performing Arts, Geneviève Louissaint Boncy of the particular office of Head of State, made an assessment visit of renovation works of several public places where activities will be held the various activities of this important festival, including the Kiosk Occide Jeanty and the square of artists.

Moreover, the Prime Minister, Evans Paul accompanied by Dithny Joan Raton, the Minister of Culture and Stéphanie Balmir Villedrouin, Minister of Tourism and Creative Industries, proceeded last week to the launch of the official website of the Festival of Arts of the Caribbean "CARIFESTA" (www.carifesta.net/) that will allow the public to have access to all information related to this cultural event of global reach.

Speaking on this occasion, Prime Minister Paul, stated that Carifesta was an ideal opportunity for Haiti to demonstrate its ability to organize major cultural festivals "This is an opportunity to show our tourism potential and for our creators to witness the richness of our cultural diversity. Our country will use this opportunity to promote his artistic works, such as dance, painting, music. On behalf of the government, I invite all sectors: cultural, touristic and economic, to mobilize for the success of this major artistic event."

The minister Villedrouin, has guaranteed that all arrangements will be made to accommodate all CARICOM delegations that will be present for this event "All the tourism sector, including the hotel industry, is ready to welcome the some 2,000 individuals representing the various countries taking part in this major event."

For Joan Raton, during this XII edition of Carifesta, "it will be important to highlight the tourism potential of Haiti and thus value several regions." The Minister also announced a range of activities to promote CARIFESTA

through jingles, while recalling that "this will be one of the events that positively mark the country during this year."

HL/ S/ HaitiLibre