Caymanian musicians and dancers hit the stage at Queen’s Park Savannah in Trinidad Monday as part of the 14th Carifesta festivities.

Fifty Cayman Islands delegates travelled to ‘festival of festivals’ last week to join thousands of other participants from across the region.

The performers have prepared for months to showcase the best of Caymanian theatre, dance, music, film, storytelling, cuisine and crafts.

Young Caymanian dancers also performed at the Southern Academy for the Performing Arts in San Fernando during the ‘We Dancing Trinbago’ event.

During the Grand Market, the team met delegates and artists from other Caribbean islands. Cayman’s oldest participant, Jeralow Rankine of East End, participated and displayed his skill in crafting hand-woven nets.

“Our [Cayman Islands] delegates to Carifesta XIV have had many opportunities since arriving in [Trinidad and Tobago] to engage with, share and experience an impressive variety of cultural and artistic pageantry and displays, representing both contemporary and traditional arts and culture manifestations,” said Marcia Muttoo of the Cayman National Cultural Foundation.

CNCF took charge of organising Cayman’s participation in the festival and coordinated input from stakeholders such as the Cayman Islands National Museum, the Cayman Music and Entertainment Association, Women in White and the University College of the Cayman Islands.

Minister of Culture Dwayne Seymour provided opening remarks for Cayman’s performance Monday evening.

“It is my view that experiences such as Carifesta continue to prove that culture is vital to our well-being as individuals, to the health of our communities, and to the strengthening of our respective countries,” Seymour said.

“Being here among regional cultural leaders, and icons such as the Mighty Gabby, who I met earlier, I consider this a once-in-a-lifetime experience. And what I’ve seen thus far has reinforced my belief in the need for continued investment in cultural arts, especially for the youth of the Cayman Islands.”

Several events remain for the Cayman Islands delegates, including displays of theatre, food and film.

On Tuesday, chefs Brittani Seymour, Timisha Edwards and Jessica Moore were scheduled to make a culinary presentation titled ‘He Hath Founded It Upon the Seas’, as a tribute to the islands’ seafaring history.

The short film ‘Luna’s Ring’, produced by Badir Awe, will be screened Wednesday.

Frank McField’s drama ‘Downside Up’, directed by Henry Muttoo, will be performed Saturday at the Queen’s Hall Theatre.