Guatemala City, by Yuliza Muñoz -AGN.- The Garifuna Color and Flavor Fair, scheduled for September 13–16 in Livingston, Izabal, was launched. The primary purpose of this event is to promote tourism in this region and make known the richness of the Garifuna people.
The organizing entities held a press conference to present the calendar of activities planned for these days.
The activity is coordinated by 14 governmental entities, including:
- Presidential Commission on Municipality Affairs
- Ministries of the Interior, Culture, Education, Labor, Agriculture, Economy and Energy and Mines.
- National Electrification Institute
- National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction
- Guatemalan Institute of Tourism
- Secretariat of Food Security
- Secretariat of Planning and Programming of the Presidency
- Presidential Commission against Corruption
Activities
The activities scheduled for the Garifuna Color and Flavor Fair included the following:
Wednesday, September 13th
- Job orientation
- Socialization of the guide “Relive my childhood”
- Diploma “Good people are prevention”
- Interactive workshop Strengthening Development Planning and Guiding Framework for the Garifuna People and the Afro-descendant Population
- Segeplan Scholarship Expo booth
Thursday, September 14th
- Conference on the projection of Garifuna and Afro-descendant Women at the Casa de Fomento y Salvaguarda de la Cultura Garífuna
- Delivery of 74 Garifuna costumes for use by the members of the Garifuna Percussion Orchestra in their artistic presentations and ten drums
- Delivery of manikins for the enrichment of the museographic script.
- Presentation on hazards and vulnerabilities in Livingston
- Presentation of a timeline on integrated management actions for disaster risk reduction and local development processes.
- Prevention and Freedom Torch
Friday, September 15th
- Workshop on How to Assemble and Disassemble a Drum and make maracas
- Meeting with Cocodes, related to disseminating the functions and importance of the INDE in the country’s development
- Garifuna costumes parade made by the headquarters’ children to promote and safeguard the Garifuna culture.
Saturday, September 16th
- Workshop focused on gastronomic demonstrations for restaurants in Livingston
- Assembly of the Entrepreneur and Artisan Fair booths
- Awarding of the patriotic drawing contest on hydroelectric plants.
Promoting Local Development
According to the authorities, the purpose of this strategy is to strengthen municipalities and promote economic development and competitiveness, as well as employment and decentralization. It is also aimed at enhancing the region’s tourism development.
The initiative consists of nearly 180 actions developed in the last three months by the different governmental institutions. All of these are aimed at civil society, which can participate in cultural and recreational activities, training, and workshops on prevention, art, and the recovery of spaces.
Strengthening the community as a whole is the project’s primary purpose, as is developing economic issues, competitiveness, and employment and providing tools for the development of the residents. Likewise, to promote national and foreign tourism to the Caribbean.
