Culture Capital Hosts B.T.I.A.’s Tourism Expo
Garifuna Settlement Day is being celebrated across the country, primarily in Dangriga. Apart from the annual parade and street parties, there will be a tourism expo. The event, hosted by the B.T.I.A., aims to show case the culture of the Culture Capital. The event kicks off at midday at the Alejo Beni Park. One of the organizers tells us what you can expect:
Jamaal Swaso, Asst. Festival Director, B.T.I.A. Tourism Expo
“When you go out there you will have everything out there. You will have the face-painters, people selling the cultural products; you will have the wanaragua masks, the shells, the art, mainly Dangriga artisans that will be displaying their products and promoting the Garifuna culture. As the theme says, ‘Showcasing the Culture, Uniting the People’ So that is mainly what we built the festival around, so the expo is built around that theme to showcase Dangriga and unite the culture under one location.”
Jamaal Swaso
Andrea Polanco
“How many people are you expecting, you know it is the 19th and there will be a lot of people in Dangriga; and there will be a lot of activities all around the town, so why should people come out to your event?”
Jamaal Swaso
“Everybody should come to Dangriga being that mostly everyone leaves after the parade. Everyone just stay around for a short time but now after the parade you can stay in Dangriga for the remainder of the day until 8 o’clock and you can stay the whole weekend and leave Dangriga on the 20th. So, Dangriga is the place to be. Also, at this AlejoBeni Park, the BTIA Expo is partnering with the Energy Expo. Thanks to Hon. Frank Pawpa Mena who is the Minister of that ministry and we are collaborating. So, it is two expos in one with many artists. The artists we have to big up who will be there are Supa G, Reckless, Lloyd, all backed up by Sweet Pain and the cultural groups coming from Ecumenical. Everybody will be there. This is the place to be.”
